Tech Help Line Idiots

Ok, Here it is....let me tell you a bit about my latest experience.....Tech Help Line Support...Idiots... I think some of these guys are hired just to anger people.. As I understand it, they are supposed to be there to HELP you...not Hinder the situation... Here's My Story:

I have an Xbox 360... I have had it for about 3 years... 4 months after I got it for Christmas, I had the "Red Rings of Death" as it is known in the Gamer World. This is actually 3 Flashing Red Lights on the Console. This is a Hardware Failure and it needs to be sent to Microsoft for Free Repair. No Problem there....Call them and they will repair it! Great Service... Now, the problem lies in this: the Idiots that are between you and your repair..... The First time I sent my console back, it was fine... the Second time was annoying, but I got over it.... the THIRD time was a DISASTER!

Now let me set the tone of the call: I was already pretty irritated that the Console was in a Hardware Failure State when I called...so that didn't help...BUT, I knew that if I was nice about it, and handled it in a mature manner, that the call would go smoothly....yeah...right... Instead, I call and have to go through an automated process to Fully Determine that this is actually the problem with my Console...Ok..Fine... I did...even though I already knew what the problem was after researching it Online... After it was determined to be a Hardware Failure by and AUTOMATED Line, rather than talking to a Tech to set up a Repair Order, what happens? The Automatic Line Directs me to do it on the Microsoft Website and HANGS UP ON ME! Ok...so I suck it up and go on the Website. It asks me to Login...so I attempt to Login with my Xbox Live Account...and What happens???? It won't recognize the account that I paid $50/year for....It keeps trying to get me to sign up for a new account....so...I call the Tech Line again and go through Options that have NOTHING to do with my problem JUST to get a PERSON to talk to...

Finally the Automated Line puts me on hold for a Tech...after about a 10 minute wait, a Tech comes on the line that sounds like English is his 10th Language! I could barely understand ANYTHING he said! And the WORST part? because of HOW I had to go through the options on the Automated Line, the Tech thinks that my problem is something different! WHAT A CIRCUS!!! after about 10 minutes of irritation with Him, I ask to be transferred to someone else...He didn't even understand THAT!!! He flatout refused transferring me!!! I say again: REFUSED!!!! I had to request a transfer 3 times!!!!

Finally, Habib transferred me to a guy named Joe! Joe was very helpful and set the Repair Order for me...in less than 2 MINUTES!!!! AND During this 2 Minutes he even reassured me that the repair would be FREE OF CHARGE even though my Warranty for the Console has expired! So the Process for a 2 Minute Call lasted OVER an HOUR!!!

So, I ask: Why do companies hire these idiots? I'm not saying the people are stupid that they hire, but isn't it counter productive? I mean people are already upset when they call...why irritate customers more??? What are the qualifications for a job like that? BREATHING?? Able to Sit in a Chair? Typing Skills? What makes a company WANT to hear Customer Complaints about their Employees???? Here's a thought: Stop Outsourcing Jobs to Idiots...Keep the jobs here and hire people that NEED the jobs!!! Like Starving Comedians!!! Wouldn't that be great?? Someone to make you laugh while getting the job done?

So a Ginormous Thank You goes out to Joe for his assistance...and a Samll Thank You goes out to Habib for wasting enough of my time that I didn't have time to Wash Dishes!

Make your own DVD movies for FREE!

By Devon Foxx - MrManUSA Writer

Ever wonder how you can take those videos you have on your computer and put them on a DVD that will play in a DVD player and do it for free? Well aside from paying for the disc anyway!

There are a number of ways you can obtain your videos. If you are familiar with Windows Movie Maker you are well aware of how you can take your videos and put them together into a rather nice movie. Windows Movie Maker comes free with Windows.

You can also download videos from YouTube using a program called You Tube Downloader, videos from YouTube and other "Tube" sites will generally download as "FLV" files. To use them in Windows Movie Maker you will have to convert them to a different format. Fortunately You Tube Downloader comes with a conversion utility built in although converting them is a second step you will have to do after you are done downloading them.

Now comes an Awesome program! And it's FREE. DVD Flick is a free program that will take all of the major video formats and burn them all to DVD. You do not have to convert them seperately, DVD Flick will do it as you generate your DVD movie. You can take your Windows Movie Maker files, YouTube videos, and most other videos you find on the internet and drop them all into your DVD Flick project. You then set the order in which you want them to play. After selecting a few other options such as video quality and the title of your disc you are ready to generate your DVD.

Now, it is free, so there are some trade-offs. It is pretty slow in generating a DVD movie and the design options are limited. You will want to set it up just before you go to bed and let DVD Flick work while you sleep. But, on a limited budget you can't complain, it does the job! After generating your DVD it will reside on your computer. If you want it on a DVD disc all you have to do is open your CD/DVD burning software and burn it to DVD just like you would make a data disc.

Alternatively you can download and buy Nero 9, probably the best for purchase DVD authoring software on the planet. This will set you back between $59.99 to $79.99 but is well worth it if your ready to move from free to a paid piece of software!

Driver's Re-Test??

By: TheRabidRogue MrManUSA Writer

OK, I'm going to apologize early for this one! It may seem more like an incoherent rant than actually addressing an issue...BUT..Something needs to be said about this issue! Here's My Story:

I was on my way to dropping my daughter off at Daycare this morning, and as I was driving down the street, (less than a mile from my apartment) a car almost hit my truck! What's so special about that? Well, let me attempt to describe the scene! On the right hand side of the street, there was a whole line of cars parked. What makes this unique is the fact that they were ALL FACING TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC! So when the man in the car pulled out from where he was parked, he was immediately facing me IN MY LANE!!!!!! Screeching Tires and a Loud Horn Blowing is what I heard as I swerved to the left! I didn't even have TIME to hit the Brakes, but he had time to blame ME for the situation! The Nerve! Like it is MY fault He was Parked ILLEGALLY FACING TRAFFIC and couldn't see to pull out! That's WHY it's against the law! So, I stifled my explicative language for the sake of my Daughter and Drove On singing Piano Man to her with the Radio.


Less than a Mile later, I am stopped at a Stop Light with my Right Turn Signal On, waiting for the light to change. The Right Turn I would shortly be making behind the vehicle in front of me is on to a 1-Way, Two Lane Highway. The Light Turns Green, and the Vehicle in Front of me turns the Right Turn and I slowly follow. As I was turning, a Vehicle that was at the Light Facing Me, also Turned into Her Proper Lane. Somehow, this woman did not see me and without signaling, begins to change lanes from the Left Lane into the Right Lane. I Slowed Down and HAMMERED on my Horn! The Elderly “Lady” (that was making an illegal lane change) Swerved Back into her Lane and had the audacity to proudly display her middle finger to me! UNREAL......Again...apparently it was all MY fault...


After I safely deliver my Daughter to Daycare, I am still singing with the radio on the way home until an alert is issued about an accident on the Interstate nearby. The South-Bound Lane will be Closed for HOURS because some nincompoop driving a Commercial Transport Bus failed to comply with the Construction Speed Zone, Lost Control after Hitting the Grooved Pavement and Bounced Off a Guard Rail and Collided with Multiple Vehicles ultimately coming to a halt on it's Roof in the Median! Six People were Rushed to the Hospital with Serious Injuries! All because someone doesn't follow the rules!



So, Here is my Proposal:


We have all heard the argument stating that Elderly People should have to Re-Take their Driver's Exam and Road Test. Let's take that a step further! Why not force EVERYONE to Re-Test every Five Years?????? Eye Exam, Written Test Addressing Traffic Laws, Road-Test and YES, How about a Test for Illegal Substances??? YEP, I said it! Drug Test for your License! Why Not? I mean, sure, after the initial Drug Test, it won't stop people from Using, but how many would have their License Suspended until they COULD Pass? Maybe that short period of time could save a life! Why Not Implement a Federal Program for Random Drug Tests for All Drivers??? Cost? No Problem..Increase the License Fee and use the Extra Money for the Random Tests! I, Personally, have no qualms about any of this! I would Gladly Submit to a Written Exam about Traffic Safety, a Road Test, Eye Exam and a Drug Test!


I know we have all had similar occurrences. Do we all make Mistakes when Driving? YES! I do too! But I don't have a blatant disregard for the Rules of the Road! Doesn't it bother you that people fail to follow the rules and place YOUR LIFE AT RISK??? No? How about your LOVED ONE'S LIVES?? When are people going to be held accountable for their actions BEFORE a disaster occurs?? Lets be PROACTIVE instead of REACTIVE!!! Let's DO Something about this! Lets Get the Idiots Off the Road! For Our Safety, and Our Children's Safety!