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Post about positive developments to follow later. But ahead of that, I am going to get this ridiculousness off my chest.
On Saturday, I set my phone beside me on the bed to take a nap. The GC entered and moved the phone to the foot of the bed where I, upon awaking, promptly kicked it onto the floor, shattering the screen.
My cell phone provider, coincidentally, was purchased by a much larger telecom and my account transferred this month. Upon logging in to the new provider to try to buy a phone I can use without getting glass splinters in my fingers, I received, in quick succession, six text messages, alternately telling me that my payment method had been successfully transferred, and that my payment method had been removed from my account and a new payment method would need to be added should I wish to still have cell phone service come April. The “My Account” page on the provider's website is broken and will not save payment information.
Calls to the new provider result in 15 minutes of phone tree navigation after which an automated voice informs me that the provider has discontinued customer support by telephone and that I should contact online chat support instead, and then disconnects. Contacting online chat support results in an automated message informing me that the provider has discontinued online chat support and that I should use the (broken) “My Account” page to resolve any issues. The provider’s coronavirus support FAQ directs customers to the (discontinued) telephone customer support, which directs customers to the (discontinued) online chat support, and…you get the picture.
All of this would not be as bad had I not plugged my computer in to charge Saturday night, only to discover that it wasn’t charged Sunday morning. Or by midday after another several hours of charging. Or Sunday afternoon. In fact, the computer recognizes the AC adapter for 3-7 seconds, then switches to battery power. Other AC adapters I had on hand fared no better. The 60 dollar replacement adapter I acquired from the local Best Buy after navigating a purchasing-through-social-distancing procedure that would put Cold War era spies to shame fared no better. My Amazon Overlords informed me they could provide a replacement adapter as “early” as May 30th, meaning I had about 2 hours of juice left on the laptop in which to back up my recent files and try to troubleshoot the problem before it died its forever death and took my ability to get online with it.
All right, I said, I will buy an overpriced POS replacement laptop from somewhere local that’s still open. The nearest location fitting the bill was the neighborhood Target, from which every overpriced POS laptop had already been panic bought. “I couldn’t believe it,” said the clerk. “They licked us clean.”
It was at this point that formal stay-at-home orders and tightened business closures were issued for my area and all the surrounding states. I was now looking at—at least—a month with no Internet and quite possibly no telephone, either. At least a month.
After multiple fruitless calls to other stores, I walked an hour to a different Big Box and purchased the sole laptop remaining in its inventory. At 4 GB RAM and a processor so shitty it’s not even identified in the specs, it is indeed an overpriced POS. But in acquiring it ahead of the stay-at-home deadline, I have at least ensured some ability to maintain contact with the world, particularly if I lose cell phone service tomorrow.
In other news, Big Box retailers may not qualify as essential businesses in this new stay-at-home world, as far as my management company is concerned, unit renovations do; which is extra super NOT GREAT when one of the units being renovated is directly above mine and the jackhammering, concrete drilling, floor removal, and piping and wiring replacement begin at 9 am and continue through the evening now that I am back on thirds.
TL;DR: I am sleep deprived and dismayed by how every aspect of life—not just entertainment, but my ability to meet financial, professional, and social obligations—is now critically dependent upon access to two pieces of electronic equipment that, under current circumstances, I cannot easily replace.
これで以上です。
On Saturday, I set my phone beside me on the bed to take a nap. The GC entered and moved the phone to the foot of the bed where I, upon awaking, promptly kicked it onto the floor, shattering the screen.
My cell phone provider, coincidentally, was purchased by a much larger telecom and my account transferred this month. Upon logging in to the new provider to try to buy a phone I can use without getting glass splinters in my fingers, I received, in quick succession, six text messages, alternately telling me that my payment method had been successfully transferred, and that my payment method had been removed from my account and a new payment method would need to be added should I wish to still have cell phone service come April. The “My Account” page on the provider's website is broken and will not save payment information.
Calls to the new provider result in 15 minutes of phone tree navigation after which an automated voice informs me that the provider has discontinued customer support by telephone and that I should contact online chat support instead, and then disconnects. Contacting online chat support results in an automated message informing me that the provider has discontinued online chat support and that I should use the (broken) “My Account” page to resolve any issues. The provider’s coronavirus support FAQ directs customers to the (discontinued) telephone customer support, which directs customers to the (discontinued) online chat support, and…you get the picture.
All of this would not be as bad had I not plugged my computer in to charge Saturday night, only to discover that it wasn’t charged Sunday morning. Or by midday after another several hours of charging. Or Sunday afternoon. In fact, the computer recognizes the AC adapter for 3-7 seconds, then switches to battery power. Other AC adapters I had on hand fared no better. The 60 dollar replacement adapter I acquired from the local Best Buy after navigating a purchasing-through-social-distancing procedure that would put Cold War era spies to shame fared no better. My Amazon Overlords informed me they could provide a replacement adapter as “early” as May 30th, meaning I had about 2 hours of juice left on the laptop in which to back up my recent files and try to troubleshoot the problem before it died its forever death and took my ability to get online with it.
All right, I said, I will buy an overpriced POS replacement laptop from somewhere local that’s still open. The nearest location fitting the bill was the neighborhood Target, from which every overpriced POS laptop had already been panic bought. “I couldn’t believe it,” said the clerk. “They licked us clean.”
It was at this point that formal stay-at-home orders and tightened business closures were issued for my area and all the surrounding states. I was now looking at—at least—a month with no Internet and quite possibly no telephone, either. At least a month.
After multiple fruitless calls to other stores, I walked an hour to a different Big Box and purchased the sole laptop remaining in its inventory. At 4 GB RAM and a processor so shitty it’s not even identified in the specs, it is indeed an overpriced POS. But in acquiring it ahead of the stay-at-home deadline, I have at least ensured some ability to maintain contact with the world, particularly if I lose cell phone service tomorrow.
In other news, Big Box retailers may not qualify as essential businesses in this new stay-at-home world, as far as my management company is concerned, unit renovations do; which is extra super NOT GREAT when one of the units being renovated is directly above mine and the jackhammering, concrete drilling, floor removal, and piping and wiring replacement begin at 9 am and continue through the evening now that I am back on thirds.
TL;DR: I am sleep deprived and dismayed by how every aspect of life—not just entertainment, but my ability to meet financial, professional, and social obligations—is now critically dependent upon access to two pieces of electronic equipment that, under current circumstances, I cannot easily replace.
これで以上です。
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