Surfing like it’s 1999

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I’ve been a DSL Extreme customer for years starting back in the modem days. When they made FiOS-based service available in my area, I was quite excited about moving from 3000/768 to 20000/20000 and jumped at the chance.

Unfortunately, Verizon changed their policies and decided to no longer allow independent ISPs access to their circuits. As a result, I was given a choice; move my FiOS service directly to Verizon (become a Verizon customer) or drop FiOS. Fortunately, when the fibre optic cable was run to my house they did so without removing my copper-pair phone line (they usually do) so I am able to go back to DSL. That is the direction I chose to take due to my desire to continue to host my server (the one you’re reading this on) which would be a violation of their terms of service. An order was placed for 7100/768 DSL last week and I confirmed that both circuits would be up for me to transition.

Then this past Tuesday, a Verizon service worker came by to install a dry-loop circuit for the new DSL service. Since I only have a single pair providing the phone service, we both agreed that disconnecting that to install the new circuit would be bad and canceled the work order so that it could be re-submitted correctly. The problem was, it still somehow got communicated/interpreted by DSL Extreme as a success so they requested the disconnect of FiOS (which they said they weren’t going to do, btw).

Now, I’m 5-7 days out from having DSL, have FiOS that is dark and cannot be re-instated without a request for new service which doesn’t fly (I was moving away from them, remember?). My only viable fall-back was to borrow a MiFi and get minimal functionality working so that essential services are available. That’s why the site is slow as you read this.

Next step, talk to DSL Extreme customer support management to let them know their business practice is busted. Oh, a credit to the account would be appropriate, too.

Twitter Updates for 2011-03-10

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  • In Verizon hell. Trying to switch from @DSLExtreme FiOS to DSLExtreme DSL. No, really, I still have phone on copper! Argh. #
  • @VerizonSupport @dslextreme Thanks! My number is in the system as ineligible for DSL even though it is still provided via copper. in reply to VerizonSupport #
  • Trying to stay positive re FiOS switch but I'm being forced to switch due to Verizon change in policy. 20000/20000 > 7000/768 but TOS worse. #
  • @VerizonSupport True, but I was on DSL for years prior to my switch to FiOS last year. (same number/address) in reply to VerizonSupport #
  • @VerizonSupport DM didn't work before. Just tried again. Thanks! in reply to VerizonSupport #
  • Yipes! In Internet limbo. My DSL switch didn't work and my FiOS got cut off. On hold with @DSLExtreme trying to get one or the other working #
  • @DSLExtreme, I'm so disappointed. Due to a broken business process you killed my FiOS without confirming DSL was working. 5-7 days for fix?! #
  • Currently formulating a plan to borrow a MiFi to jerry-rig connectivity. #
  • @VerizonSupport is stepping up. They might be able to restore FiOS while I wait for the DSL move order to get processed. Thanks! in reply to VerizonSupport #
  • Verizon phone tree: 90 min, 5 xfers. Nice people, no help. @VerizonSupport (Frank), 10 min, 1 xfer. Nice, knowledgable, helpful. #
  • @VerizonSupport (Frank), you weren't able to help me but I cannot stress enough the appreciation I have for you for trying. Keep it going! #

How do you do a parenthetical smile?

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Smileys are a decent way to express emotion when communicating in emails or instant messages. However, what do you do when you want to use one in a parenthetical statement? This doesn’t work: (you know what I mean? ;-)) Square brackets? [kinda awkward, huh? :-)] Curley braces? {silly 8^)}.

I’ve ended up using the rather old-school and relatively-unknown <g> because that at-least works (for me, anyway <g>).

What do you do?

Alfred: Function and Style

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While there have been a few quick launch programs for the Mac (Quicksilver is the most notable), I’ve generally not bothered with them as I was satisfied with OS X’s built-in Spotlight function (the magnifying glass in the top right of the screen). With Apple’s App Store being released for OS X 10.6.6 recently, I was poking around looking for the cream among the collection and ran across Alfred by Running with Crayons, Ltd. My position has changed.

First, Alfred is a well-designed piece of software that displays a nice big dialog when activated by pressing the pre-defined hot-key (the default is opt-space):

The main Alfred dialog

That dialog is where you can perform application and file lookups like you do with Spotlight but the real power is the fact that pre-defined functions allow you to not only do searches of other websites (e.g., Amazon, eBay, WikiPedia, Google, Facebook, etc.) but the ability to add search for any other site that uses a URL-based search method. That is what has sold me. In only a few minutes I added search strings for many internal websites I use at work which will be most convenient.

The application is free but a ‘Powerpack’ add-on is available which adds even more functionality (iTunes control, file manipulation, terminal shortcuts, and others). I’ll be getting that but will wait for it to be available in the App Store. If you ever use Spotlight, give it a try. Plus, the developer’s a LittleBigPlanet fan which gives me even more reason to like it. ;-)