Backup and You Won't Get Hurt

I use QuickBooks for Windows on my Mac using a Windows emulator. Been doing this ever since Apple put out Macs with Intel processors. QB for Mac is a very inferior product, so I am forced to go the route I have.

We subscribe to an Intuit online backup service. I probably run a backup between once a week to two or three times a week depending on how much data I’ve entered since the last backup. Over the weekend, I have tried several times to backup our data only to be given a nondescript error message where even its “definition” online means about zero.

So, I called technical support. Got some guy in India or thereabouts. I explained the problem, the error message, and asked if there was any issue with their system. I was told there was not, that people were using the system as we spoke.

He asked if he could take remote control of my computer and I said he could. When I told him I was running a Windows emulator on a Mac, he told me he would try to help me, but they don’t support that application. He kept repeating this whenever I asked a question. He told me this so many times that I said to him to stop saying it again. That didn’t deter him. “I can try to help you, but we don’t support …” Argh!

I made it clear that I had been backing up the files to Intuit regularly using this setup and that only this weekend did I start getting an error message. Was there anything going on with the Intuit system now? Again, I was told there was not.

So I went into the Windows side and downloaded the file he needed to take control of my machine. After a few minutes, he asked if I minded being put on “hold” for a bit. I didn’t mind.

When he came back on the line, he told me that several people were having a problem logging onto their system, they were having lots of problems, and I should wait three or four days before trying again. So, the cloud is stormy today.

Thus, dear hearts, it was not Windows running on a Mac. It was Intuit all along. Would have been nice if he had checked that early on when I asked him if there was a problem on their end.

Ten Years Since My Prostate Cancer Surgery

It’s been ten years. I’m uncomfortable with calling myself a cancer survivor. I had a cancerous part removed from my body. So far, that cancer has not come back. But I think it’s important to keep it all in perspective. Here’s what I wrote a year after the surgery.

Scar Redemption

The surgeon made a six-inch cut
from my navel downward, removed an organ
peppered with cancer. Before the surgery,

I took a picture of my abdomen—
this is what it looked like when I had
all my parts. Over weeks and months,
I found myself fingering the healing
incision, a tingling reminder of the gash
where hands entered.

I have wondered when the scar
and its sensation would go away.
It was red and stitched,
visibly and invisibly. Later
it felt like braided cord. Then
upper portions flattened, smoothed
out, while lower parts remain
raised and hard.

A year passed. I think it will not
change much more. Now I realize
I don’t want it to disappear.
I want to touch my scar,
be reminded of what’s gone,
have feelings wash over me.

Iowa Straw Poll

Well, here are the results. So about 16,000 people in a non-binding popularity contest can kill a candidacy. Why and how is Iowa the bellwether for the entire United States of America? How much money was raised and used to court these few “voters?”

Okay, Bachmann and Paul floated to the top. I don’t think this means anything in the long run. Are they really the two most viable Republican candidates? And didn’t we already know the people at the bottom (e.g., Gingrich) were going to be at the bottom?

Winner of the straw poll and the caucus later in the past who never got the nomination include:
2007 Romney straw poll, Huckabee caucus – nominee McCain
1987 Robertson straw poll, Dole caucus – nominee Bush senior
1979 Bush senior straw poll, Bush senior caucus – nominee Reagan

Winners of the poll/caucus that did go on to be the nominee include:
1999 Bush junior (running for reelection)
1995 Dole

Lots of media coverage as if this were a real primary statewide in a string of primaries. Lots of talking head analysis and blather. Oh my, this is going to be a long and boring 15 months until the real thing.

Herrington Recants

Over the weekend, I got an email from Herrington touting their latest sale, new products, etc. On the email, I saw I could unsubscribe to such emails and I could leave feedback. I did both. And in the feedback, I asked that no more print catalogs be sent to our address as well. On the feedback form, I also said that my decision was based on how I had been treated on a refund of defective shoes I had ordered from them where I had not received a credit for shipping or handling and I saw nowhere in their offerings that this was company policy on returns or exchanges.

As a result, I got an email saying they had received my comments and the writer was referring them to his/her supervisor. Here is the email I received today:

Dear Mr. Hirsch,

As promised, I forwarded your previous email to my supervisor. Upon reviewing this matter with my supervisor, we would be more than happy to credit you for the initial shipping and handling on your order. Please be advised that this credit is currently processing and will be on your next credit card statement.

Also, I have removed the provided name and address from our email and catalog mailing lists. Although we have flagged your address as “unsubscribed” you may receive an email that has already been scheduled for release. Should you continue to receive emails 14 days after unsubscribing please do not hesitate to contact us. Also, you may receive one or two more catalogs due to advanced mailings. We appreciate your time and patience on this matter.

Sincerely,

Tom
Herrington Catalog
Customer Service

If you read my earlier posting about the incident that led up to this, let me remind you that the customer service rep in those emails was also “Tom.” Guess that’s the only guy they have working there, huh? My reply to Herrington was as follows:

I appreciate your attention to this matter. Too bad it took this exchange of emails to have it happen. The original set of emails regarding this matter can be found at: http://hirschwrites.blogspot.com/. mlhjr