Ride it like you stole it!

Riding Around FlatLand on a Stormy Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:58:00 +0000

Yesterday found me packing the cooler for some riding around FlatLand.

There was a 30% chance of thunderstorms but a 100% chance of fun so I went for it and headed out for the curves and groves of Northeast Pasco county.

There were tons of motorcycles out & about taking in the beautiful day and enjoying the shade from the passing clouds that turned dark gray by 1:00pm.

As a monstrous wall of rain moved from West to East across FlatLand, I enjoyed the down-pour for several miles before I made my way east to I75 for a short high-speed run south to SR56 doing an end-around on the storm clouds and heading West to the Casa.

Even with getting wet I really enjoyed the riding on the fine Sunday.

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 13

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

This Mornings Motorcycle Commute to Tampa started out like a fine ride into a brilliant sunrise under some dark & building clouds.

On SR54 near Little Road the bottom fell out of the clouds and it dumped a lot of very cold rain on me for about 3 miles before I rode out from under the cloud.

Hey, It's Florida Outside!

I changed shirts once here at the office as the mesh jacket does nothing to keep one dry.

Construction on the Sun Coast Parkway and the FHP Cruisers keep traffic to a slow pace for a while but it quickly found it's stride again on into Tampa.

Have a Great Day everyone.

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Before there was medicinal marijuana there was...

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:58:00 +0000

During the Last Prohibition, there were Legal Ways to secure Alcohol.

All it took was a visit to your Doctor for a Prescription for Liquor to treat your ailments.

This is not a new concept.

Prohibition ultimately fails and costs more than legalization and taxation which brings the money into the public coffers instead of the pockets of criminals.

Legalize Marijuana and tax it as Liquor and Ciggi's are now. This will bring in Billions and the Industrial uses for Hemp Fiber can spawn major growth industries.

Hemp has served mankind for thousands of years, discovered in ancient civilizations at least 8000 B.C. Was grown widely in U.S. by colonial farmers including Presidents Washington and Jefferson. Americans were legally bound to grow hemp during the Colonial Era and Early Republic.

With such a long history, why is it illegal to grow it here? Is it a relation to the marijuana family?

Hemp fiber is harvested from the large annual plant Cannabis Sativa.

This industrial hemp has negligible alkaloid content and cannot be used for any drug. Canada, China, most of the European countries like France, England and many more allow growing and processing hemp – they don't have problem with distinguishing the difference.

What is different about US?

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 10

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

The morning Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was on wet roads once again as showers overnight fell on FlatLand.

With a 70% chance of Thunderstorms again today I'm pretty sure I'll get wet again during the commute home this afternoon.

Traffic was moderate and there were FHP Cruisers on the Veterans Expressway as well as SR54.

It's Friday in FlatLand, and payday to boot! Have a Great Weekend Everyone, and Ride it like you stole it.

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 9

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

This mornings Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was in surprisingly lite traffic.

The roads were clear and still wet from overnight/early morning rains with the clouds forming for another day of thunderstorms. Hey, it’s Florida Outside!

The FHP were out on the Veterans Expressway lying in ambush on the side of an on-ramp, out of sight of Northbound traffic.

Have a great day everyone!

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Florida Attorney General Signs Amicus Brief

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:59:00 +0000

Attorney General Bill McCollum of Florida has signed an Amicus Brief Supporting Second Amendment Incorporation.

Two-thirds of the nation’s attorneys general have filed an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari in the case of NRA v. Chicago and hold that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This bi-partisan group of 33 attorneys general, along with the Attorney General of California in a separate filing, agrees with the NRA’s position that the Second Amendment protects a fundamental individual right to keep and bear arms, disagreeing with the decision recently issued by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Attorney General McCollum was one of the many who agrees that the Second Amendment is a fundamental individual right and signed the amicus brief. Please call Attorney General McCollum at (850) 414-3300 and thank him for standing up in support of the Second Amendment. You may also e-mail him by clicking here.

The State Attorneys General Amicus Brief can be found by clicking here.

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FlatLand – The Two Towers

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:59:00 +0000

A "strong place and wonderful was Isengard, and long it had been beautiful; and there great lords had dwelt, the wardens of Gondor upon the West, and wise men that watched the stars.

But Saruman had slowly shaped it to his shifting purposes, and made it better, as he thought, being deceived - for all those arts and subtle devices for which he forsook his former wisdom, and which fondly he imagined were his own, came but from Mordor; so that what he made was naught, only a little copy, a child's model or a slave's flattery, of that vast fortress, armoury prison, furnace of great power, Barad-dûr, The Dark Tower, which suffered no rival, and laughed at flattery, biding it's time, secure in its pride and its immeasurable strength."

– The Two Towers, The Road to Isengard - J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien was a master of painting with the Minds Eye, and the Two Towers was no exception.

The symbolic nature of Two Giant Towers, standing in opposition of one another is indeed a powerful image to behold.

That being said, the towers aren’t foreign to FlatLand, in fact there are Two Towers standing around 1500 feet that can be seen from all over FlatLand.

These Two Towers are the bases of two very large radio antennas standing near the coastline of FlatLand, and serve to remind me of Tolkien's story each time I see them. I can see them clearly from my front garden and the high-powered strobes signal their presence to the aircraft over FlatLand and serve as a reference for ships out in the Gulf.

My active imagination and constant state of wonder have me greeting them like a pair of sentries standing shoulder to shoulder, resolute in their duty to stand guard over FlatLand day & night.

“But now he has a mind of metal and wheels. He no longer has a mind for growing things.”

- Treebeard re Saruman

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 8

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

The morning Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was a nice ride in high humidity in the 80's f. with heavy traffic.

The Full Moon in the Western Sky was amazingly bright as it shown through the Thunderstorm Clouds that are building for today's rains.

I'm gonna need a new jacket and helmet as the ones I have now are interfering with the development of my gills!

Have a Great Day Everyone!

LATER

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Don’t You Just Hate It When That Happens?

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:59:00 +0000

I Swear Moe, I didn't touch em! Whoop Whoop Whoop Whoop…

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And The Ass Hat of the Week goes to:

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:56:00 +0000

The Republican Wink-Meister and part time seat warming Governor who announced her entry into this years Iquitarod!

Gov. Winkie decided to tell the state of Alaska to kiss her ding-batted booty, as she just hasn’t the time to forward her own delusions and actually do the job she was elected to do?

LATER

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 7

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

This mornings Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was in a very nice 80 degrees f. with some heavy humidity thrown in for good measure.

The clear sky’s directly over FlatLand will fill with thunderstorm clouds throughout the day and the onshore breeze this afternoon will ignite the storms as is the norm this time of year.

Traffic was heavy during the commute but I didn't see any of the normal complement of Florida Highway Patrol along the commute playing the revenue game.

Have a Great Day Everyone!

LATER

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Historical Sites around FlatLand

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:59:00 +0000

While out riding Pasco & Hernando Counties this weekend, I decided to photograph some of the Historical Markers I roll past and acknowledge with little thought.

This one is located on Bellamy Brothers Blvd in Pasco County.

The GoldWing alongside Bellamy Brothers Blvd.

Along SR98 in Hernando County

At SR50 and US301in Hernando County

Located on St. Joe Road in Pasco County. Side A

Side B of the above marker.

These are just a few of the historical markers in the areas where I ride.

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200 Miles - A Nice Round Number

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:57:00 +0000

Friday in FlatLand was the first day of a long holiday weekend. I spent it riding the back roads of Pasco & Hernando counties.

It was very hot and the clouds provided some shade as they tumbled overhead.

The 200 miles slipped by in good order and fun was had by all out in the groves.

I again rode the same route Saturday and Sunday as well. It was just too nice outside to spend the days indoors in the Air Conditioning when the roads were calling.

Yes, it was very hot, all three days, but the cooler in the trunk kept the Mt. Dew cold and refreshing for the extended stops under some massive shade trees such as on Old Trilby Road.

The XM Radio was blasting out live music on E Street Radio and everything just clicked, making for a very nice weekend of riding.

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 6

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

This mornings Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was on wet roads as morning showers had already passed over the roads ahead of me, insuring the roads were as slick as possible for the commute.

Traffic was heavy and moved well considering the conditions and I didn't pass any FHP Cruisers along the route this morning.

It's a Monday in FlatLand with thunderstorms on the horizon. Have a Great Day Everyone!

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The Biker Body Map – Some Dark Humor from Cracked

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:58:00 +0000

I came across an article from Cracked, a dark humor attempt by someone that probably has never ridden a motorcycle.

Motorcycles are an early form of Terminator, designed to infiltrate human society and pick off aggressive males before they become resistance fighters. They're very good at what they do.

A motorbike is the bare minimum number of parts required for an engine to reach lethal velocities.
As opposed to regular vehicles, motorbikes use the rider to protect themselves.
Donorcycles were invented by an aging industrialist to ensure a constant supply of replacement organs. He got all he'd ever need within a year and continues to sell them simply because it's funny.

Motorcycle Safety
The safest thing you can do with one is give it to your mortal enemy. The second sentence is normally where'd we make a joke about dicks or sexual inadequacy, but there's absolutely nothing phallic about buying a big, throbbing danger-machine and holding it between your legs. (And even if you have nothing to compensate about, after a few months of shaking and baking your crotch, you will).

Insurance
The average insurance premium for a young male motorcycler is a fair fraction of the total insured amount, or perhaps the GDP of a small country. This is because the biker is not expected to survive long enough to make a second payment, as a motorbike is basically a conversion kit for turning an insecure asshole into an extremely unguided missile.

Like I said, it’s kind of dark, but interesting to see how this guy feels about motorcyclist.

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 2

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

This mornings Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was in light intermittent rain on slick roads.

The cagers behaved for the most part and I didn't see a single FHP Cruiser out & about.

More rain expected today as the chances increase to %70.

Have a great day and enjoy your Holiday Weekend!

LATER

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Senator Elect Al Franken – Congratulations!

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:58:00 +0000

Senator Elect AL Franklin. Doesn't that sound official? Well it’s finally a reality.

Tuesday, former Sen. Norm Coleman gave up his challenge to the November election results clearing the way for Master Satirist Al Franken to take the state's remaining U.S. Senate seat.

"The fight ahead, the fight to rebuild our economy and broken health care system and to restore our standing in the world, that's a fight we must win. It's a fight we must win by setting aside partisan gamesmanship and working together."

Congratulations!

BTW, The Democrats now have a filibuster-proof majority.

LATER

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Commuting in FlatLand – Jul 1

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0000

The morning Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was a nice ride as was Tuesday's commute home.

Yes, I ride in the rain. If you live in FlatLand and only ride when it's dry, you are missing out on a lot of riding.

You also miss out on blowing the minds of the cagers we live and work around, as well as the part time riders that just can’t get their heads around rolling out of a dry garage into the rain for a ride.

A quote comes to mind.

But then again, I nuckin futz!

LATER

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Conquer a Fear - The Art of Manliness

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:59:00 +0000

Fear can be a good thing. It’s a biological instinct that prevents us from doing stupid things that might kill us. For example, fear kicks in with good reason when we see a slithering snake or look over the edge of a cliff.

Unfortunately, fear is not always rational and not always healthy. Thus, our heart races when we’re getting on a plane but not when we’re driving, even though we have a far greater chance of dying while behind the wheel. And while fear works to prevent us from physical pain, it can also hold us back from the chance at both the pain of a crushed ego and the exhilaration of victory and success.

The Manliness of Overcoming Your Fears

Fear is irrational. No one can ever be fully rational in their choices and behavior. But every man should strive to live with reason and ration as his guide. Fear is a primal instinct, not a function of higher brain faculties. When we logically think through our fears, we often find that they have no real rational basis.

Fear is cowardly. We often try to frame our fears in ways that soothe our egos. We say that we’re being prudent or cautious. We say that we haven’t tried simply because it’s not important to us. We say that we’re just a little nervous. But if you want to start overcoming your fears, it’s helpful to call a spade a spade. Don’t say, “I’m not doing this because I’m nervous,” say, “I’m not doing this because I’m a coward.” This is not meant to be harsh; I actually find it quite helpful to frame my internal debate this way. Because who wants to be a coward? A man seeks to be brave and courageous.

Fear robs you of your integrity. Integrity means behaving in a way wholly congruous with your beliefs and values. But when we want to do something and we believe it’s the right thing to do, but we fail to do it because of fear, we violate our core values. Living true to your principles will always involve a healthy measure of overcoming your fears.

Fear pushes you from the driver’s seat. A man is a captain of his own destiny. He makes the choices and chooses the roads that lead him to his goals. A man ruled by fear abdicates his captainship to his fear. He gives his fear the steering wheel. Who is the master of your life, you or your fears?

Fear leaves regrets. A man does not dwell on the past. He learns from it, but never lets it hinder him. Yet if you allow fear to keep you from seizing opportunities that come your way, you will inevitably look back, kick yourself, and wonder why the heck you let fear have its way with you.

Fear slows our personal growth. A man should always be striving to improve himself, to be a little better than he was the day before. But there is no growth without risk.

How to Overcome Our Fears

“Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them.” ~ Brendan Francis

We need not live our lives captive to our fears and insecurities. You can, through your will, become the master of your fears.

Change your perspective on fear. Is the pain you experience while working out a negative thing? Or is it just the feeling of your body getting stronger? Fear is only a negative thing if you believe that it is. You can choose to think about it simply as the “pain” your body experiences as your character develops and expands. There is very little growth where there is no pain and work.

Instead of seeing the tackling of our fears as nerve-racking, see it as an adventure. An adventure is anything that takes you out of your comfort zone and into unexplored territory. It can be as grand as an African safari or as basic as talking to a stranger. Conquering a fear, big or small, can be downright thrilling. Every man should try to scare himself a little every day.

Change your perspective on risk. The root of our fear is our fear of trying something and crashing and burning. What if I get rejected? What if I fail? These are short-term risk assessments. Yes, there is a chance that you will fall on your face. And if you don’t take the risk, you’re guaranteed not to face failure.

But in making such a calculation, you are leaving out the long-term risk, a risk that’s far riskier than any short term blow to your ego. The long term risk is this: The risk of never amounting to anything. The risk of living a completely mediocre life. The risk of looking back in 10, 20, or 30 years and feeling your stomach turn with regret.

When I was a kid and was afraid to do something, whether it was slide down the water slide backwards or ride a huge roller coaster, I would ask myself this question: “Which choice are you going to regret more? Doing this thing and being scared for a few minutes or not doing it and missing out on the experience and always wondering what it would have been like?” Even my ten year old brain knew the answer.

Remember, when you skip an opportunity because you’re afraid, you’ll never get that moment back. Never.

Finally, we often fear failure and rejection because it hurts to think that we’re not as suave or talented as we had supposed. This is a blow to the ego. But when we don’t act on our fears, we send a message to ourselves that we are in fact cowardly, and this subconsciously wears away our sense of self and will stick with us far after the sting of any failed enterprise has passed.

Maybe it’s time you updated your criteria for risk assessment.

Act courageous. Teddy Roosevelt overcame his fears by acting as if he were not afraid. Do the same.

“There were all kinds of things of which I was afraid of at first, ranging from grizzly bears to “mean” horses and gun-fighters; but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually ceased to afraid.”

Think about the great men of history. Our own personal fears and challenges can seem overwhelming and insurmountable. But with the proper perspective, they can seem rightfully manageable. The next time you you feel paralyzed by a fear, think of the courageous men of the past. Think of Edmund Hillary ascending Mt. Everest, the Freedom Riders meeting a crowd of angry Klansmen, the astronauts sitting in Apollo 13. You’ll soon think, “Dammit! And here I am unable to make this flippin’ phone call!”

Kill the fear with logic. As we mentioned above, fear is not a rational thing. The solution is thus to kill it with logic. The best way to do this is to ask yourself this question: “If I do this, what is the worst that can happen?”

What’s the worst that could happen if you asked someone out and they said no? You didn’t have a date then, you don’t have a date now. Nothing has changed.

What’s the worst that could happen if you apply for a job and don’t get it? You didn’t have the job before, you don’t have the job now. Nothing has changed.

What’s the worst that can happen if I give a speech at the conference and bomb? No one will ever tell you, and you’ll never know you were bad.

And so on and so on. With almost any scenario the worst that could happen might be temporarily unpleasant, but is infinitely manageable.

Memorize this quote. We’ve already talked about the power of having memorized quotes at your ready disposable. One of the best passages to memorize and recite to yourself when you’re afraid is this one from Theodore Roosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

There’s no need to feel the fear, just do it. A lot of self-help gurus recommend that you fully feel the fear and go ahead and tackle it anyway. I disagree. Giving the fear wholesale residency in your body is just going to make you get all tense and freaked out. What I find works is acknowledging the fear, but then immediately going for it, even before your brain has time to dwell on what you’re about to do. Just put your brain on cruise control. Check out a little bit and start down a path you can’t return from. Dial that number. Walk into that office. Once you’re in the mix, you’re forced to carry on, and you’ll find that you do indeed have the strength to pull it off.

The men of Easy Company signed up to be paratroopers with only the faintest idea of what jumping out of an airplane entailed. As they donned their packs and climbed into the hull of the plan on their first training flight, some of the men were feeling the fear big time. Others chose not to think about it. When the green light went off, they lined up, stepped to the door and jumped.

Just do it.

Today’s Task: Conquer a Fear

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.” -Helen Keller

Pick a fear you’ve had for some time. Something you need to do, something you want to do, but you’ve been continually putting off. We think we stay safe by playing it small, but our unconquered fears sit like a weight on our shoulders. They’re there when you wake up and when you go to bed. They keep whispering in your ear that today is the day to go for it, and you keep ignoring the call. The weight of your unconquered fears builds slowly, almost imperceptibly, but it grows each and every day, slowing down your progress and cluttering your mind.

Ask that girl out that you’ve liked for a very long time. Tell your best friend how you really feel about her. Break-up with your girlfriend that you stopped having feelings for months ago. Ask for that raise you deserve. Confess your mistake to your friend or boss. Ask your brother for forgiveness.

Perhaps there are some 30 Days tasks that you haven’t done yet because you’ve been afraid to. Today is the day that the excuses and procrastination absolutely must end. Talk to 3 strangers. Write your dad a letter. Take a woman on a date.

Just do it.

Source: The Art of Manliness

LATER

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Beware Of CompUSA.com – Double Charging Credit / Debit Cards – A Porn Site Trick - Updated

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:57:00 +0000

UPDATE: 07:00:00 Eastern 06-29-09

Yes, it's been yet another 24 hours with no contact from anyone at CompUSA.com.

I still have not been contacted by anyone from CompUSA.com about the issues or their internal escalation and what they intend to do to rectify the $105 in NSF charges they created by Double Billing / placing Double Holds on my card.

UPDATE: 08:00:00 Eastern 6-9-09

Well. it's been yet another 24 hours and no contact from anyone at CompUSA.com.

It's clear that Customer Service and Problem Resolution is nowhere to be found in their business model, as evidenced by my repeated attempts to get in contact with anyone who can/will actually handle a problem and see it through to completion.

I still have not been contacted by anyone from CompUSA.com about the issues and/or there escalation and what they intend to do to rectify the $105 in NSF charges they created by Double Billing / placing Double Holds on my card.

UPDATE: 07:30:00 Eastern 6-8-09

I received two automated emails from CompUSA.com's system this morning.

Both are entitled "Customer Follow-Up" with the Subject line or "Your Recent Order #Wxyxyxyxyxy" (the order number).

The email indicates that the product was shipped 10 days ago and ask if I wanted to "GIVE US YOUR OPINION" and provided a link to a survey site.

I followed the link and filled out the survey honestly and submitted it.

Personally, I doubt they read the surveys as they seem to ignore email to their, as they call it, "Customer Service Department".

UPDATE: 19:00 Eastern 6-7-09

I have not heard back from the useless twit to which this was supposedly escalated at CompUSA.com.

They still have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

If this is their best efforts at remediating a problem they themselves created for a New Customer, then they really don’t need any New Customers.

I placed an order with CompUSA.com on the 27th for an Acer NetBook, $237 and change, a great deal even for a refurbished NetBook.

I used my Visa Debit Card and paid on-line through their shopping cart system.

Later that evening I decided to order another NetBook for Sue, so I went back online and placed the order, again using the Debit Card.

Within a few minutes I received a call from their customer service desk asking me to verify that I indeed meant to order two units at the identical costs of $237 & change. I confirmed it and the rep indicated all is well and the orders would be processed with no further interaction on my part required.

This morning when I went to my Wachovia Branch located on our business campus, to deposit the paycheck; I discovered that CompUSA.com had Double Charged my card, four charges of $237 & change. Two on the 27th and two on the 28th.

This caused $105 worth of NSF charges on my account.

My Banker indicated that she could back out the extra charges but CompUSA.com needs to fix their system data so it stops double charging the account.

I made my deposit and returned to my office to engage CompUSA.com to get this BAD Situation rectified, and emailed them through their online Help Portal with all the pertinent data, so there would be no questions required to address the issue(s).

Thirty Three (33) minutes later I receive an email telling me: "We apologize for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, the Web Response Team is unequipped to check on this billing issue. Please call our Customer Service at 1-800-266-7872 so that we may accommodate you with this concern."

I called the number and was then immediately put on-hold and in queue, waiting 20 minutes without being connected to an agent.

I replied back to the email I received from them indicating that I didn't have time to waste on-hold and that they should escalate this to the appropriate Manager and call be back on my BlackBerry, and supplied the number.

Still no call back or email contact, and the charges are still on the account as holds. $900 & change worth of holds.

This is Piss-Poor Customer Non-Service. No wonder their retail locations are closing.

They say "A word to the wise is sufficient" so consider this a Word of Caution if you ever deal with CompUSA.com.

I will never order from them again! At least when a Porn Site screws you, you expect it.

UPDATE: 13:40 Eastern 5-30-09
I received an email response last evening, 10 hours after my email to their "Customer Service" Dept., indicating that "We do apologize for the inconvenience that we might have given you. We will be forwarding your email to our customer service department who will be able to assist you further with this issue. You should be receiving a call from us within 24 to 48 hours."

Still no call from them, but I checked my bank account on-line a few minutes ago to find that they Expired the erroneous charges and that had released the multiple Holds on my account.

However, they have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

UPDATE: 08:00 Eastern 6-1-09

I received another email from them, asking me what the problem was. I explained it all again and have not heard back.

They still have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

UPDATE: 17:00 Eastern 6-1-09

I arrived home from my commute to find two boxes on the stoop, from CompUSA, it was the two Acer NetBooks.

Both are charging and I've been through the Operating System setup / Customization on one of them.

As noted above, I wanted the NetBooks, and the price could not of been better. The issue all along was that They Double Held both charges and caused $105 in NSF charges that They should refund to me, the customer, the one they screwed.

They still have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

UPDATE: 10:00 Eastern 6-2-09

I responded to the last email I received from Comp-USA again, and have not heard back.

They still have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

UPDATE: 8:15 Eastern 6-3-09

I have not heard back from the person to which this was escalated at Comp-USA.

They still have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

UPDATE: 10:00 Eastern 6-4-09

I have not heard back from the person to which this was escalated at Comp-USA.

They still have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

UPDATE: 17:00 Eastern 6-5-09

I have not heard back from the useless twit to which this was supposedly escalated at Comp-USA.

They still have not refunded the $105 in NSF charges Their Actions generated.

If this is their best efforts at remediating a problem they themselves created for a New Customer, then they should just give up and shoot themselves so they don't screw up anyone else's account.

LATER

Technorati Tags: CompUSA.com,Customer Non Service

Commuting in FlatLand – Jun 30

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:55:00 +0000

This mornings Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was just following a nice downpour from the heavy laden thunderstorm clouds dancing across FlatLand this morning.

The sunrise through those same clouds was spectacular in deep warm reds and oranges turning into the blazing hot yellows.

FHP Cruisers were out on the Suncoast Parkway / Veterans Expressway waiting to ruin someone's morning and traffic was heavy and for the most part the cagers stayed off their Fool-Buttons while around me.

Have a Great Day everyone!

LATER

Technorati Tags: RilySi,Ride it like you stole it,Motorcycle Riding,Motorcycle Commuting,FlatLand,Florida

A weekend in FlatLand – Let It Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:00:00 +0000

The weekend here in FlatLand was punctuated with major rain events, not complaining, just saying, and so I spent a little less time in the saddle that I would of liked.

I spent most of the day Saturday running around with Sue knocking out the shopping choirs, but I did take a nice ride to Largo & Back for some take-away Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon I rode up to the nearest petrol station to fill the tank on the GL1800 and noticed she turned over 16,000 miles while at the pump.

Time for a oil change at a minimum, and perhaps a new rear tire as I'm getting tired of the slipping & sliding the Dunlop's keep performing.

Perhaps I'll try a set of Bridgestone's this go round. They worked out great on the K1200LT so they will most likely stick like glue on the GL1800 as well.

LATER

Technorati Tags: RilySi,Ride it like you stole it,Motorcycle Riding,Motorcycle Commuting,FlatLand,Florida

Commuting in FlatLand – Jun 29

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:55:00 +0000

This mornings Motorcycle Commute to Tampa was in a comfortable 75 degrees f. with high humidity and Thunderstorm Clouds building all around.

With a %60 chance of wet, it's going to be an interesting ride home this evening, but hey, we still need the water and the green up of all the tropical's has been beautiful.

Have a Great Day everyone!

LATER

Technorati Tags: RilySi,Ride it like you stole it,Motorcycle Riding,Motorcycle Commuting,FlatLand,Florida

My thoughts on Michael Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:00:00 +0000

As fate would have it, I was born around the same time as MJ.

This means I was able to watch him grow up on TV as we all watched him perform with his brothers, and then in his solo career.

Unfortunately, Michaels life was not the happy go lucky, young pop-star existence I'm sure he would have wanted.

As Michaels fame and fortune grew to unsustainable levels, his personal appetites grew beyond his control as well. This was his modus vivendi, feeding his demons that would eventually kill him.

I'm referring to his addiction for plastic surgery that had him chasing some vision of himself that could never be perfected, just changed, via self mutilation by surgeon.

To my eye, he hated who he was and was determined to completely change his outward appearance in a vain attempt to find a more palatable version of himself.

To quote Bruce Springsteen’s Better Days;

"Now a life of leisure and a pirates treasure
Don't make much for tragedy
But its a sad man my friend who's livin in his own skin
And cant stand the company"

While I personally wont miss him, there are millions who will. But will they be missing the Pop Super Star of his past or the disturbed, self hating aberration his wealth and his Doctors created from his tortured self.

Michael has paid the debt that all men pay.

May his soul find the peace missing from his life.

LATER

Technorati Tags: RilySi,Ride it like you stole it,Motorcycle Riding,Motorcycle Commuting,FlatLand,Florida

And The Ass Hat of the Week goes to:

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Dragon) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:58:00 +0000

The Republican South Carolina Governor who was caught cheating on his wife with a lover in Argentina, has been an adamant opponent of gay marriage, civil unions and gay adoptions - because they violate the sanctity of marriage.

Not only does Gov. Sanford oppose same-sex marriage, he also opposes civil unions as well as gay adoptions. Do you think Sanford's four kids missed him when he skipped out on them for Father's Day last weekend because he was cheating on mommy?

LATER

Technorati Tags: RilySi,Ride it like you stole it,Motorcycle Riding,Motorcycle Commuting,FlatLand,Florida