Ambitious Paradox

Table Tennis (Taken with instagram)

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:37:26 -0600

Table Tennis (Taken with instagram)

Comcast Nightmare [Repost]

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:17:10 -0600

As I mentioned in a previous post, in lieu of importing all of my archived blog posts from Wordpress (because Tumblr can’t import), I’m going to periodically repost some of my favorites old blog entries. This is the next such post. You can read the original with comments here. For the full archive go to jasonact.wordpress.com.

[Originally posted March 10, 2010]

Kari and I decided a while back to switch our phone and internet service from AT&T to Comcast. While it costs a little more, we’d grown to believe that the quality of service, not to mention the significantly faster internet, would be well worth the price. I got online to order service and expected to soon have the service up and running.

Boy, was I wrong. What followed was the most comically ridiculous series of errors I’ve ever experienced. Time after time Comcast consistently shot itself in the foot. Here is the summary of misadventures that I emailed to Comcast customer support this morning:

I initially tried to schedule installation online. It consistently got to the “Live Chat” portion of the process, and the website would report an error. I tried this numerous times on many different days and times using 4 different web browsers (calling on the phone was not as convenient).

Eventually, when I got a person on the phone (after winding through a ridiculous automation system), the person on the other end went through the process only to find that the scheduling system was down, and I would have to call another time and start the process all over.

@ComcastCares on Twitter had me send a detailed email we_can_help@cable.comcast.com, and the recipient of that email passed me on to a local rep.

The rep called and left a single message on my cell phone. When I returned her call, I got her voicemail and left a message, but I never heard from her again. She never called me back.

I called the toll-free number back 2 days later and scheduled and installation appointment for February 27 (8-11), which at the time was 2 weeks away. February 27 came, and the installation people came out to the house 30 minutes before the scheduled window was to close. They said they could not install because my house (30 years old) had never been wired for cable TV or it needed to be rewired, and they didn’t have the right supplies. (Don’t you think it would have made sense to find out what was needed BEFORE coming out?)

We rescheduled for the following Saturday, March 6. I later received a phone call saying that March 6 couldn’t work because Comcast could not transfer the number until March 8. (That would’ve been very interesting for me if the February 27 installation had gone as planned.)

I rescheduled the installation a third time for Wednesday, March 10. I had to take off from work to wait for them. I wouldn’t have minded if the installation had actually taken place. Instead, all I did was wait until a Comcast rep called me at 10:55am (5 minutes before the 8-11am window closed). She said that the installer was stuck at another job and wouldn’t be here on time. Tough. I had an 11:30 meeting that I had to be at. I wasted 3 hours of my morning waiting. I couldn’t wait anymore. I was so irritated, I just told her to cancel the installation altogether because I have no faith that it will ever happen.

If any one (or even two) of these problems had happened, I could understand. Problems come up, and you deal with them and move on, but this has become ridiculous. I’d like to say I think you can help me, but I have to wonder whether any subsequent attempts will be met with yet another problem. None of this has instilled any confidence in Comcast.

Now, I’m not one to complain about customer service. I understand that large companies such as Comcast (especially those that outsources a lot of its labor) can have a hard to making everything go completely smooth, but this became worthy of the Three Stooges. I appreciate the concern shown by @ComcastCares and @ComcastMelissa over Twitter, but all they did from a practical standpoint was direct me to an email address that may or may not have helped. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Comcast didn’t want my business! I’m seriously considering obliging them and just sticking with slow AT&T.

[Update: We ended up going with Clear, which was a huge mistake. They throttled us at unbelievably low levels, and we had to get rid of them. We gave Comcast another shot, and they eventually got it going. It isn’t as reliable as I would like, but the speed is generally okay, although I could stand it to be a bit faster. I’ve come to the conclusion, though, that there really isn’t a good option out there, only less bad ones.]

Photo

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:06:51 -0600

Photo

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:59:14 -0600

Aidan gets the rebound and makes the open shot

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:55:12 -0600

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Aidan gets the rebound and makes the open shot

Holy moly. So much awesome cool, I can’t stand...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:19:41 -0600

Holy moly. So much awesome cool, I can’t stand it!!

awesomepeoplehangingouttogether:

Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali

Are You Ready to Have Sex?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:32:51 -0600

Are You Ready to Have Sex?:

sundownsocialwork:

sexpositive:

Ask yourself these questions, and consider all the physical and mental possibilities before having sex.

Is your decision to have sex completely your own (you feel no pressure from others, including your partner)?

Is your decision to have sex based on the right reasons? (It shouldn’t be based on peer pressure, a need to fit in or make your partner happy, or a belief that sex is the only way to make your relationship with your partner better, or closer. If you decide to have sex, it should be because you feel emotionally and physically ready. Your partner should be someone you trust.)

Do you feel your partner would respect any decision you made about whether to have sex or not?

Are you able to comfortably talk to your partner about sex and your partner’s sexual history?

Have you and your partner talked about what both of you would do if you became pregnant or contracted an STI?

Do you know how to prevent pregnancy and STI’s?

Are you and your partner willing to use contraception to prevent pregnancy and STI’s?

Do you really feel ready and completely comfortable with yourself and your partner to have sex?

These questions were compiled by Young Women’s Health. Find this, and more information here.

(via fuckyeahsexeducation)

Watching this Super Bowl, I can’t help but wonder what might’ve been if Schaub had...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:52:47 -0600

Watching this Super Bowl, I can’t help but wonder what might’ve been if Schaub had started against the Ravens.

The gang at the Aeros game. Awesome time.

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:09:41 -0600

The gang at the Aeros game. Awesome time.

Time for some Aeros hockey versus Lake Erie

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:08:41 -0600

Time for some Aeros hockey versus Lake Erie

Aidan, Regan, and friends having pizza before the hockey game at...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:07:20 -0600

Aidan, Regan, and friends having pizza before the hockey game at Bombay Pizza Co.

Book Review: The Shack by William P. Young

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:58:04 -0600

The Shack by William P. Young
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Writing a review of this book is difficult. I could review it as a bad novel, which it is, but that would be an overly simplistic assessment that I think misses the point of the book. I could also review it as an intriguing exploration of God and the role of Humanity in the world, which also it is. At its heart, I believe this is a theological treatise that challenges dominant perceptions of God, especially perceptions held by Christians. It attempts to explore the true identity of God and God’s role in the world. Frankly, this exploration is the most interesting part of the book. The story takes a significant backseat to the theology in my opinion.

I’m still deciding how I feel about the theology. On the whole, I think it challenges a lot of popular notions of what God is and what God wants, and even if the reader disagrees with the specifics of the theology, it undoubtedly causes the reader to rethink his or her assumptions about God in a positive way. In this regard, it’s a good book for the practicing Christian and searching person, looking for some way to understand God in a deeper, more holistic way.

The novelization of the premise, however, is very weak. The story is shallow and predictable. The characters are very one-dimensional, and any amount of literary criticism would completely rip this book to shreds. With that in mind, I would encourage any reader wanting to explore the theology and philosophy contained within the book to begin with Chapter 5, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”. This skips the bulk of exposition and bad fiction writing that will frustrate a lot of readers. Thankfully, I don’t think anyone who does so will miss anything pertinent that can’t be figured out later in the book.

I think both religious and secular readers can appreciate this book. If anything, I think religious readers may have the greater problem with the book because it directly challenges a lot of the sacred theology that Christians hold on to. I hope that people who may be tempted to reject the book on these grounds, however, might see it as an important opportunity to think deeper and fuller about their personal theologies, even if they disagree with points here and there. I appreciate that it did so for me.

View all my reviews

Aidan (No. 11) throws around the rock at YMCA

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:08:55 -0600

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Aidan (No. 11) throws around the rock at YMCA

Disappointed in Christians (but not Christianity) [Repost]

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:08:35 -0600

As I mentioned in a previous post, in lieu of importing all of my archived blog posts from Wordpress (because Tumblr can’t import), I’m going to periodically repost some of my favorites old blog entries. This is the first such post. You can read the original with comments here. For the full archive go to jasonact.wordpress.com.

[Originally posted November 10, 2005]

I learned that the state I grew up in, Texas, recently passed Propositions 2, which is a consitutional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. As my brother wrote, I am not surprised, but I am very disappointed. More than anything, I am dissappointed in the Chrisitans who champion this, as if they are doing anything to advance the Kingdom of God.

I am absolutely sick of the “religious right” taking issue a moral high ground with some issues and not with others. Where is the proposition to significantly reduce greehouse gases? Or fund the viability of alternative fuel sources? Where are the propositions to fund universal health care? Where are the propositions to fully fund higher education for inner city kids? Where are the propositions for better job training? Where are the propositions to make PEACE? (WWJB: Who would Jesus Bomb? Matthew 5:43-48 should give you an idea) Where are the propositions to HELP people??!! Those would be propositions that advance the Kingdom of God (see Mark 12:28-34).

Of all of the issues for Christians to hitch their politcial wagon to, I am disgusted, embarrassed, and disappointed that they chose something as divisive, hostile, and for the most part irrelevant as gay marriage. Whenever I hear about this issue, I am embarrassed that people lump me into the same category as them, simply because I am a Christian too.

I do not believe that the government should be in the business of defining marriage. It is a religious institution and should be defined by religious bodies, not a civil ones. It is also a clear violation of the separation of church and state, which I also believe is Biblical and Christian. Civil unions should define legal partnerships in the eyes of government; nothing more is needed.

“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” — Jesus wasn’t just talking about money.

Edit: Contrary to popular belief, gay marriage would not do anything to undermine or harm marriage. I don’t think gay marriage would affect hetero marriage in any way. Divorce is the biggest threat to marriage. Where are the propositions to do something about divorce (and I don’t mean banning it)? Where are the propositions to do something about sexism and gender stereotypes, which also undermine marriage? Where are the propositions limiting the number of hours that someone making $40,000+/year can work because they (especially men) need to spend more time with their families? Where are the propositions teaching family members how to treat each other? Those are the real threats to marriage, not gay marriage.

Don’t try to tell me that gay marriage is a threat to the insitution of marriage when those issues are still out there. That’s like saying Costa Rica (or Iraq…) is a bigger nuclear threat than North Korea.

Hamster ball

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:18:44 -0600

Hamster ball

It’s the small things.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:21:12 -0600

It’s the small things.

Whenever visiting the Alley, you always must visit the Tony.

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:28:11 -0600

Whenever visiting the Alley, you always must visit the Tony.

I need a meditative labyrinth in my back yard.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:13:22 -0600

I need a meditative labyrinth in my back yard.

Seriously, how is PETA not all over this one? Mickey’s a...

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:35:43 -0600

Seriously, how is PETA not all over this one? Mickey’s a regular sociopath-in-training!

The Problems of Race in 2006 [Repost]

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:56:28 -0600

[Originally posted March 25, 2006]

I went to the Michigan Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) Annual Conference today. The keynote speaker was Dr. Kenneth Hardy of Syracuse University. The topic was “Working Effectively with Adolescents in Families of Color”. It was the best workshop/discussion about multiculturalism, race, and institutional racism that I have ever heard.

What I appreciated was his candor and ability to accurately convey to a predominately white, middle class audience that racism and general prejudice are still very pervasive throughout our culture. Perhaps more importantly, he helped me understand the subtle, innocent ways that even I participate in the perpetuation of racism. This is very difficult for me to understand because I am in a cultural position of power. I am a white, middle-class, Protestant, straight male, which means that the existing societal structure was created and is largely maintained by people just like me. But I walked away from the conference with something very different than “liberal guilt” which most people assume should be the primary react of those in the majority. Rather, I left with a much better understanding of how people of other cultures see me as a privileged male, which is the first step to open dialogue.

So here are a few of the most important points that I took away from Dr. Hardy’s lecture:

Saying the wrong thing about race and multiculturalism is better than saying nothing at all. At least when we say the wrong things, it has the opportunity to open dialogue about race and differences. Staying silent for fear of “saying the wrong thing” only breeds further misunderstanding.
It is more important for me to understand the perspective of others than vice versa. This is because my intentions are irrelevant to everyone but me. All that matters is how my speech and actions are received by others. If I did not properly convey my intentions, then it is my responsibility to restate in a more accurate manner.
People in the minority know more about my culture than I know about theirs. Yet, we often put the responsibility on them to teach us, rather than on ourselves to learn. One example given was from a Pakistani woman who said that most people in the room would not be able to spell or accurately pronounce her name. Yet she could probably accurately pronounce and spell most of the European names in the room. Although no one tested her, we all knew that she was likely correct.
There are four aggravating factors that effect adolescents’ propensity to act out. The first and most damaging of these factors is a process of devaluation, which is the process by which an individual or group is steadily stripped of the essential elements of humanity and unique, valuable perspective. It is essentially the loss of one’s voice of influence in the larger ecosystem.
The Process of devaluation immediately leads the person of color to begin valuing respect over life. If their lives have no value, as society tells them, then they will make respect the ultimate prize to be protected and avenged if necessary. This is what leads a person to shoot another person for disrespecting.
People in power are usually innocently oblivious of the ways that they walk over those below them, devaluing the identities and culture of the others. Those in power make the decisions and are often moving too fast to notice the toes that they stomp on.

With this understanding, it becomes clearer why so many Middle Eastern Muslims have rage at Americans. Americans are in a position of unequalled global power. We have not entered into the kind of dialogue that facilitates collaboration. Instead, we have allowed the process of devaluation to create a culture in the world that has its back against the wall. They have gotten the message that their lives are not valued, and so they will insist on respect. We have had no dialogue with them, and we have expected the world to adhere to our culture, without bothering to learn or respect theirs.

This is not a justification for the violence that a few Muslims carry out. There is no justification for that. Rather, it is an explanation. It is a way for us, as people of power and privilege, to understand the context of their rage. This is not a way to blame America for the events of September 11. Rather, it is a way to understand how we can begin to heal, learn lessons, and prevent this from happening again. Until we open dialogue with those who’s culture has been devalued and begin to learn how our messages are received, terrorism will continue to be a problem in the world. As that dialogue begins, however, we will enter into a world that may be awkward at first but closer to a reality of multicultural cooperation.