tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10842135339509387402024-03-13T06:04:57.707-04:00My Life and TimesJohn Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-8940057251344271382023-07-16T15:23:00.052-04:002023-07-16T15:34:55.980-04:00Doctors Are Afraid <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNT9NDcy__WzNGgaHoGJHE7OckJ6r0lca66yFZFRE-ZL77b1dVm_35Gsaw4tMRyJGRbBW-BUpGzhtD72R-yL7FgVeSbDzlfMbZUgK_tvu5QPl1FcfJSFhk51580Ayx6RZzkrbvejRWsOjWGcdmL9JeBWS6BEZm62h4LlT0JX01K9PK50EZySjHjUt7wZx/s590/PERCOCET.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="590" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNT9NDcy__WzNGgaHoGJHE7OckJ6r0lca66yFZFRE-ZL77b1dVm_35Gsaw4tMRyJGRbBW-BUpGzhtD72R-yL7FgVeSbDzlfMbZUgK_tvu5QPl1FcfJSFhk51580Ayx6RZzkrbvejRWsOjWGcdmL9JeBWS6BEZm62h4LlT0JX01K9PK50EZySjHjUt7wZx/s320/PERCOCET.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">IN FEBRUARY of 2023</span></b>, I got "shingles" on my left hand. I wrote the bulk of this in March.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I had unbelievable pain in my left hand for nearly 6 months because doctors have been pressured by the media coverage of "the opioid crisis" into being scared and afraid of "getting accused of something" if they find it necessary to prescribe effective painkillers (properly). They now think and preach that "pain is necessary" and other such bullshit proclamations. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Your homework is to watch this movie:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zGcKURD_osM" width="320" youtube-src-id="zGcKURD_osM"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;">"Why You Can't Get Adequate Pain Relief Any Longer"</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's been almost a month since I was diagnosed and all I have been prescribed is 50 5/325 Percocets ... that's it. And, during the 1st 3 weeks, after having taken from 8 to 18 Feb, 11 days, she felt that was a lot. Granted, I only have pain in my left hand - BUT IT'S A LOT! Jam needles in your hand and then set it on fire. That's what it feels like.</p><p>I had sent her an e-mail when I had maybe 10 left in the 2nd bottle, taking only 4 per day ( ... these are only 5mg of oxycodone, mind you!) and was going to run out over the weekend (again). The first prescription (x30) ran out on a Sunday and wasn't refilled until *Tuesday* (x20), so I was trying to avoid that. It took too long, she was on an extended weekend or something, Rx was refilled too late ... it ran out. Not fun. </p><p>Remember, so far I had been prescribed only 50 which, at 4 per day, would only last 12.5 days. I had taken 2 at night the first 2 days, so they lasted fewer than that. My hand *still* hurts unnecessarily as I type this and prevents a good night's sleep (Tylenol/acetaminophen does not work well enough). </p><p>Apparently, we are now to "embrace pain." Isn't it a coincidence that this change happens after the big "opioid" crisis over the past years. I guess that means *everybody* is an addict now and *nobody* knows how to manage their medicine.</p><p>Her quote: </p><p></p><blockquote>"I'm sure the pain is miserable, but hopefully it is improving every day. You've been given 50 Percocet - which is a LOT. I am not inclined to keep giving you more. I will not be able to completely eliminate your pain. Our goal is to make it tolerable."</blockquote><p></p><p>I doubt she would like to hear that from her dentist before getting a root canal.</p><p><br /></p>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-50569140336906085882023-07-16T14:46:00.002-04:002023-07-16T14:51:36.773-04:00Now there's a river in the air?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9tZjEXw3x68vk3GpB9r9U8G8f8p3mba9dQvx4naByXhnKJtRqyjJlfrwmt2pldtxgMFKfqG2SI6G8LEToNM4TFttcF5WIKS6tSnywaTiUZDbvCgWealyvBV0RK-fcChxNb7E24rWskrq/s1600/1689533171914768-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9tZjEXw3x68vk3GpB9r9U8G8f8p3mba9dQvx4naByXhnKJtRqyjJlfrwmt2pldtxgMFKfqG2SI6G8LEToNM4TFttcF5WIKS6tSnywaTiUZDbvCgWealyvBV0RK-fcChxNb7E24rWskrq/s1600/1689533171914768-0.png" width="400" />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/atmospheric-river-to-trigger-life-threatening-flooding-in-northeast/1558359" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Weatherpeople Warn of "Atmospheric River</a><span style="text-align: left;">" <= Clicky Clicky</span></div><br /></div>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-32784052089689294062023-07-11T07:43:00.002-04:002023-07-16T14:56:37.228-04:00How long is this going to be a thing? <p style="text-align: center;"><b> <a href="https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?showlegend=yes&contours=pm25&xmin=-16886604.599421788&xmax=-2210695.168671849&ymin=2025414.7409784226&ymax=7974050.030242397">Dirty Air Map</a> <= Click that</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp9hsEkzCrCqLXXjA2FWe-EBFisIKT7qWTnIS6-L2gyAMQkEZt6HbGUWjaKYLRmQl1kx88I7FR7m5zANeTTsLyQrmh7wEVVd75XeWNiR1quKDq5drXiEIM0eXl0jizQfL0pEz5vRQ9Pk6MKgwEkaWYmP4cBoh0ynDyeH7D9_zoMkFmtSVzys_Qmy8uScx/s1920/Dirty%20Air%20Map%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1920" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp9hsEkzCrCqLXXjA2FWe-EBFisIKT7qWTnIS6-L2gyAMQkEZt6HbGUWjaKYLRmQl1kx88I7FR7m5zANeTTsLyQrmh7wEVVd75XeWNiR1quKDq5drXiEIM0eXl0jizQfL0pEz5vRQ9Pk6MKgwEkaWYmP4cBoh0ynDyeH7D9_zoMkFmtSVzys_Qmy8uScx/w397-h196/Dirty%20Air%20Map%202.JPG" width="397" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-80378253540456524082023-06-30T06:25:00.001-04:002023-06-30T06:25:28.717-04:00Making your bed - whatever ...<p>It's a good way to keep your bedding stuff aired-out, but I don't think that "making your bed in the morning" gives you any more of a sense of accomplishment than does intentionally <b>not</b> doing so. But it sold speaking gigs and a book for the guy who pushed the idea not long ago, as I understand, so more power to 'im.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXW2YzDPQcJEF7tOyFxp9WuYO6z1ijjNtw8kJT4YdCLhbTzDkuU7qtwWFPAQk6oVrN5RR9shWhOrkH4yyZ8y_kkec1dLQcRZu9q6Pv1yXn4xhdCs4KmanKsXSRBswbjsG59K1qFqhttW3bz1FjYYYGy3tnuYKBSz7qW5x7qrNV5dn0YlfbeRY_vY8xXyJ/s393/NOT%20IMPORTANT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="393" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXW2YzDPQcJEF7tOyFxp9WuYO6z1ijjNtw8kJT4YdCLhbTzDkuU7qtwWFPAQk6oVrN5RR9shWhOrkH4yyZ8y_kkec1dLQcRZu9q6Pv1yXn4xhdCs4KmanKsXSRBswbjsG59K1qFqhttW3bz1FjYYYGy3tnuYKBSz7qW5x7qrNV5dn0YlfbeRY_vY8xXyJ/s320/NOT%20IMPORTANT.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-55409340987498722062023-06-30T05:11:00.001-04:002023-06-30T05:11:34.138-04:00Another CrappyAir-filled Weekend4th of July = Tuesday this year. Tttthhhhppppbbbb.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrJxYpVPpqstgvQCznj0OvjEAJm7JfvhRsbRZopLgo4pUzkrJV_1Rd-formzfyj_X2_ozLEBSGmC7OP28cXodfKvgOeCEslmZeCDH424BoSoZ0ZXDZDdva9Uqxd0ZQajQJhYfI6--LN44EPPamJgPAWFXm3OuOTo-I8SV2dCmfoF52-zIOYaQz7HGUCg9/s1908/July%20Air%20Still%20Bad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1908" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrJxYpVPpqstgvQCznj0OvjEAJm7JfvhRsbRZopLgo4pUzkrJV_1Rd-formzfyj_X2_ozLEBSGmC7OP28cXodfKvgOeCEslmZeCDH424BoSoZ0ZXDZDdva9Uqxd0ZQajQJhYfI6--LN44EPPamJgPAWFXm3OuOTo-I8SV2dCmfoF52-zIOYaQz7HGUCg9/w415-h206/July%20Air%20Still%20Bad.JPG" width="415" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-12816394726697382362023-06-07T15:26:00.001-04:002023-06-07T15:26:39.187-04:00Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Hits DC<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvxMy7LkYFQUsGYDqTk-3Hw-SPAhMj7WC2Lus3EY4egGeY8N98avYOpv0LhED8dfXqUM9M6jr8MiNhVA8lfhiM4JiHs_IUGZ0BtJMOB6l88FGYMwDkvSyxRMwPVvTK5V6HJUJLUC4dyBsInT7L1HEoHblRfDPwpfsEzfam1sqjnW1cA1W-idxEZzfXQ/s1342/SMOKE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1342" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvxMy7LkYFQUsGYDqTk-3Hw-SPAhMj7WC2Lus3EY4egGeY8N98avYOpv0LhED8dfXqUM9M6jr8MiNhVA8lfhiM4JiHs_IUGZ0BtJMOB6l88FGYMwDkvSyxRMwPVvTK5V6HJUJLUC4dyBsInT7L1HEoHblRfDPwpfsEzfam1sqjnW1cA1W-idxEZzfXQ/s320/SMOKE.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjFzTibXL3Epeb5TMpEtCo1Yl-z1Jzr8dl3DMncKRbU04LGbYMp9GmyX8luUpU4IEUppc30-RDjmSygiTkQ-NJgSFFtQOMU3fWQZJ5Tz5EJEgyWmV02GXl4gi3zGMsQvJIlqQnFnnVObm3cYvPQXA63xEGzucC2QU64tOIz9ZdiIIoaYKBYeNNmUUEA/s1221/smoke%20map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1221" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjFzTibXL3Epeb5TMpEtCo1Yl-z1Jzr8dl3DMncKRbU04LGbYMp9GmyX8luUpU4IEUppc30-RDjmSygiTkQ-NJgSFFtQOMU3fWQZJ5Tz5EJEgyWmV02GXl4gi3zGMsQvJIlqQnFnnVObm3cYvPQXA63xEGzucC2QU64tOIz9ZdiIIoaYKBYeNNmUUEA/s320/smoke%20map.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Looks bad from the balcony here. Smells worse.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-25581493395909346222023-05-08T05:21:00.005-04:002023-05-08T05:23:42.013-04:00<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thepennsylvaniarambler.com/2020/03/08/mystery-of-the-musser-stone/" target="_blank"><b>Mystery of The Musser Stone</b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thepennsylvaniarambler.com/2020/03/08/mystery-of-the-musser-stone/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AA2oWyUqkU5qeq0zpN5cSPYlrYLZ9iuCoejVCDHzl_racHWP-IcNysQdP5fhjthcJXHbjKBtay7CbSx-vMR7PnewHTqLY9mU4-IWKnnNRdMcSoeDfNEdUUN7pQm5mJhzpD6JfB20MSukVs4Wz8gwlpKC6jb-4RoHiTkpz_lY5037-z3OBFxwJTcK1w/s320/MusserStone.JPG" width="227" /></a></p><br />John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-66604054127261877722023-01-25T16:03:00.002-05:002023-01-26T18:16:18.434-05:00Coming in May to a Theater Near You<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Heroes aren't born. They're built. Get ready for a different breed of heavy metal hero.</span></div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1M3Y-ny4i53GsIBFOCIa_XSO4ZyZqcwkOR_al85TSEYRQj_ztY8nvjJT7x9xy0bvSgxWwxSIu4Q0YYrhRZdfKoepHoFAVNsyG3RtmJVl4gUW7_e1_i89h3hQbcBlRq_yRz8U1dJS95GuAj-KkiYAcdsgKnCLHfLx1zmUyKHPfyJhQ01u-GLFnN-ftg/s1280/JOHN%20EM%20IRONMAN%203.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="849" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1M3Y-ny4i53GsIBFOCIa_XSO4ZyZqcwkOR_al85TSEYRQj_ztY8nvjJT7x9xy0bvSgxWwxSIu4Q0YYrhRZdfKoepHoFAVNsyG3RtmJVl4gUW7_e1_i89h3hQbcBlRq_yRz8U1dJS95GuAj-KkiYAcdsgKnCLHfLx1zmUyKHPfyJhQ01u-GLFnN-ftg/s320/JOHN%20EM%20IRONMAN%203.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p></p>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-44771928908220867092021-03-11T07:40:00.011-05:002021-03-11T17:37:26.222-05:00The Last Pandemic<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Last One of These Lasted 2 and a Half Years?!</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN2IxloCZsq4IWw9eQwLLyUisXDDmgX0JpbfVsj60nmmPzqmfOBPqemKgFWojPTGYE9maCVLnPqKQoJN2rP7ir_fL_0YZoNA-PZqJKYTBSXGs2sa7qKjQ4sBHzhdWPxhNiQJzAVi7w6XC/s957/1918.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Route 1 / Arlington / 4am, Spring 2020" border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="957" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN2IxloCZsq4IWw9eQwLLyUisXDDmgX0JpbfVsj60nmmPzqmfOBPqemKgFWojPTGYE9maCVLnPqKQoJN2rP7ir_fL_0YZoNA-PZqJKYTBSXGs2sa7qKjQ4sBHzhdWPxhNiQJzAVi7w6XC/w400-h231/1918.JPG" title="Facebook Cover Photo from Spring 2020" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>I began writing this post in pieces somewhere in September of 2020, after having been working from home ("teleworking") since mid-March of that same year.</span><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><span> When I first began, making notes really, I remember thinking:</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span> "I should keep notes. This is *crazy!* 6 months? Really? How much longer can this go?"</span><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span> Who knew? </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span> </span>Nobody, that's who.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span> </span>At first, I was amazed that 'they' were estimating: </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>"This could last well into May."</i></span></blockquote></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span> Then t</span>he </span>Summer of 2020 was over.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span> <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span> Then the </span>Fall of 2020 was over.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span> Then December 2020 came and went.</span><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span> And now, as I finish cleaning up these notes that make up this post, we will be a few days away from Spring of 2021. And the one-year anniversary of my COVID-year will have come and gone. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span> As it turns out, President Biden will also be speaking to the nation today re: this same 'anniversary.' So, apparently the day I was sent home to work was the same day that the U.S. officially decided that things were serious and getting out of control.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>For a full year as of today, I have remained indoors for as much of the day as I can. Early on, I figured it was probably a good idea to be *in*doors when people are most likely to be out and about. While most people began complaining about being 'locked down,' as many still call it, I had no problems with the isolation. I've become a hermit - on purpose. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lsureveille.com/opinion/quick-takes-what-do-you-miss-most-about-life-before-lockdown/article_08af2f26-f37c-11ea-8447-1bd16c450657.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1429" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJnpSJ1i0cSOmY0uYaxfLXhJAb3K7vIkiW2ju06jxmLdZJhwyT2edN61ECj3UvnLLVyRuKHLDdRBD3rhi_wQYsI08nV9Q5mnh7t8zLkVSDyJXy-FXvCkeXjF14iloFi-GIFNJy3uRnEE9/w400-h193/What+do+you+miss+most..JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span> Since not too long into this 'new normal' </span>I have been making an effort to try to keep to pre-pandemic hours and the same general routine as I did before 11 March of last year. It didn't take but a few days of working from home to clearly realize that I needed to do *something* that would fight off the 'weirdness' of being in one spot for both work and non-work all the time. </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>I would bet that people who work on a farm don't have as much of that problem during this pandemic thing. Lots of room, no crowds to deal with. I could be totally wrong -- it's been a while since I visited a farm and I don't think anyone in my family runs one any longer or I'd ask them. I'd have also thought that living in a secluded community would have been a good way to live during the past year, but they didn't have any better idea either ... people would 'go off the reservation' and come back to the community and *boom* -- now their community not only got sick in days, but they were 'secluded' and hard to get to for help.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbko06UCFlEslFHZRZXolEb87kPMS8hyphenhyphenvy-P38fnIP71rjYz2SuY3qbq382ui4rqROyqbYngkg4qYCLmzo0LnektXZ3vPAnRDk_oWn3aCssJlD94J0x_AITf3rOsnWbKNnu0SzzTOqHP-K/s846/VILLAGE.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="846" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbko06UCFlEslFHZRZXolEb87kPMS8hyphenhyphenvy-P38fnIP71rjYz2SuY3qbq382ui4rqROyqbYngkg4qYCLmzo0LnektXZ3vPAnRDk_oWn3aCssJlD94J0x_AITf3rOsnWbKNnu0SzzTOqHP-K/s320/VILLAGE.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span> </span>Actually, since maybe three months into this thing (less than that, maybe), mental health professionals began recommending that we try to maintain as much of our pre-pandemic routines as possible to avoid depression from the isolation (self-imposed or not) and things like that. So, I try to get out the door by 0450, simulate the walk I used to make on work days to catch the first Metro to the Navy Yard station and then walking back. This is about a 3-mile'ish walk. Maintaining a routine as much as possible does, in fact, seem to help.</div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/HealthU/2020/06/02/why-routines-are-important-for-mental-health/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJI-RpPhLKZHOBV7n9Zlno1GQMPXbfv4EsuBW2UCS4HmhvwaHoQsAajSGAyVb-DnmDr3b9oOljTnP5Z7oxsayqVE26pD6X5d1M6ixJJCKhOliJTQ2Hz-qOWXWazJbe4UQHBy770OeeZLB/s320/coronavirus-routine-meme.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><div><span> I would take </span>the dog in a little wagon and do minor grocery shopping at the local 7-11 or CVS Pharmacy sometime between 3 and 4 in the morning. This would make me feel better because I was getting in at least half the steps I used to get during my commute to work. I was also able to avoid coming into contact with anyone except the grocery clerks who are all usually more than 6 feet away, sometimes wearing *two* masks of some sort, if not working behind plexiglass barriers. </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>The experts say '30-minutes' of brisk walking per day is good. Though I may not always be 'briskly walking', at least I'm getting in that prescribed 30 minutes of walking and doing my best to reduce breathing death. There's a set of 33 stairs along my 'route' which I run up and run down as an excuse to not walk as 'briskly' as I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be.</div></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span> </span>I noticed maybe 1 or 2 days before that day that in March that "people were getting weird".</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ylg9EOQwL2cvDmBfkBL4TsBIRZvSpV-zMDFqEpvHV9z6UAN6Bx9GrwX8iFTqOf7SjMr8fdJY8QH73UIiLoDaKZBBsDsZ4VNel7HUzssjDTDUH6Df5h9SVvN3rEB-IySSvets0ag43K_7/s275/covid+eu.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ylg9EOQwL2cvDmBfkBL4TsBIRZvSpV-zMDFqEpvHV9z6UAN6Bx9GrwX8iFTqOf7SjMr8fdJY8QH73UIiLoDaKZBBsDsZ4VNel7HUzssjDTDUH6Df5h9SVvN3rEB-IySSvets0ag43K_7/s0/covid+eu.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span> After being </span></span>sent home just as the Spring of 2020 was giving it up to Summer, instead of making plans to take a vacation to Italy or maybe go to Disney World and (or?) visit family, we were all told:</div><div><blockquote>" ... stay home, don't gather in areas with lots of people and don't travel long distances to visit with family ... stay home." </blockquote></div><div> So people stayed home - for a while. But Americans, uniquely I think, got 'weird.' </div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span> </span>For example, to prevent somebody else from taking all the stuff thought to be important (only because everybody *else* thought it was important enough to hoard it) everyone wanted toilet paper, bottled water, hand sanitizer, and canned goods in local supermarkets. But I also noticed that many of those same people who felt it necessary to beat someone else to hogging all the stuff also refused to wear masks as 'suggested' (not mandated). So ... people were worried enough about COVID-19 to hoard supplies for themselves, but not worried enough to wear masks. I was even wearing rubber surgical gloves everywhere for quite a while. I also couldn't figure out why some people would wear masks but then not have a problem touching their faces, rubbing their eyes, etc. My policy was 'buy twice as much as normal of any item purchased and put the 'other half' in a closet on a shelf.'</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span> </span>Very early on (but after 'wash your hands') the wearing of medical type PPE masks was recommended as the easiest way to prevent the spread of the virus - along with maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others. But I suppose people don't always think right. It's a uniquely American sentiment: "You can't tell me what to do! I'm an American!" Some people find it no more palatable to be told 'wear a mask so you don't infect others with a disease you may not know you have' than they do thinking the government is going to come to their home and take their guns. Maybe it's not a uniquely American way to think, but maybe it is.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span> Prior to being sent home to work a year ago, </span>my boss had asked me if I wanted to take off early to go out and see if I could find some supplies. He had gone out already some days before and said he felt he was successful in accumulating 2 weeks of supplies. He recommended I do the same, so I did. At the time, that was supposed to have been enough. Two weeks' worth of stuff. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span> </span>Honestly, I don't think I was taking things seriously enough. I was probably recalling some overly-panicked folks acting similarly when almost similar flu-warning was being blared when 'The Avian Flu' was thought to be on the verge of becoming a pandemic. I guess all that hand sanitizer took care of that panic. Hand sanitizer and a lot of training about pandemics. Of course, I don't remember learning anything about the 1918 Spanish flu during that training while I was stationed in Italy, either. But I'm sure somebody could prove me wrong because we had computers there. I know. I used them a lot. And Powerpoint presentations. They had those, too. So I won't accuse anyone of not pointing out the last global pandemic. They might send me their Powerpoint presentation and make me feel bad.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM55iYok_FwNydyLYqv6WZAdWWKleaqmdN2EKoSDRvioO-3v7fB9DchykHfjyYnpfQmQp3ZavvYK9t6yUN25ltx_wTZy8lnc9y_UqxZ-CYshY1l4naWW4WSnsEAPwm7fC9RrZOXuOw3fzF/s2000/weird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM55iYok_FwNydyLYqv6WZAdWWKleaqmdN2EKoSDRvioO-3v7fB9DchykHfjyYnpfQmQp3ZavvYK9t6yUN25ltx_wTZy8lnc9y_UqxZ-CYshY1l4naWW4WSnsEAPwm7fC9RrZOXuOw3fzF/s320/weird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div> "COVID-19 information" was still, by my recollection, somewhat sparse and not being disseminated very well when I was sent home last year. Well, let me rephrase that: "information concerning *the seriousness of COVID-19* was not being disseminated very well, because nobody really knew much about it." <b>DISCLAIMER</b>: "Of course, I could be wrong."</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span> It was either th</span>at or it was my issue with being hesitant to read or listen to many commercial news sources; commercial/network websites and television 'broadcasts', etc. Are we still supposed to call them 'broadcasts' or do we now just call them 'programs'? I have this "attention issue" for many reasons, really. It's not a 'fake news' issue, I don't think. I mean, if I owned a television network or a newspaper, I'm pretty sure that I'd let all my affiliates know that I wanted them to present the news the way I wanted it to be biased, er ... sorry ... "presented". I think, anyway.</div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span> Anyway, i</span>t's that, plus the fact that I also get annoyed by many (most?) commercials and advertising in general. </div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span> </span>To be honest, sometimes I just don't pay attention because I'm not interested (after giving someone a chance to be interesting, of course) and am usually thinking about something else I find more interesting. It's obvious to me that, if I'm thinking about something else besides that which I'm supposed to be paying attention that *my* something is more important than *their* something. Right? No?</div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span> (</span>I added that last paragraph just in case someone wishes to say something like 'Yes, we did tell you how dangerous this COVID thing was, you just weren't paying attention.')</i></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span> </span>I do recall a few of my coworkers (while still working in an actual-honest-to-goodness pre-COVID cubicle farm) seriously putting out their hands as others would come near them as they said:</div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span> </span>"Hey! Social Distancing! Keep 6 feet away!" </div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span> </span>I remember thinking "What's this? 'A new thing'?" I also remember signs all over like those in the Metro station under the Pentagon on my way home: </div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"KEEP CALM AND WASH YOUR HANDS."</b> </div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKN9S82rrsjq72fQsj9fhYKEyvx-sCeM_YDoN7_rAEgMHJfUkz89WKmDRartA2NAlwB7U_Idxt4XLqtZBE4ti8mjmwWiXDG-JF3ghyphenhyphenLMdeLptcY2B8AhQSxfFAtIBtG5a7KWmC2i00oaN/s800/pentagon+wash+your+hands.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKN9S82rrsjq72fQsj9fhYKEyvx-sCeM_YDoN7_rAEgMHJfUkz89WKmDRartA2NAlwB7U_Idxt4XLqtZBE4ti8mjmwWiXDG-JF3ghyphenhyphenLMdeLptcY2B8AhQSxfFAtIBtG5a7KWmC2i00oaN/s320/pentagon+wash+your+hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div><span> Still, i</span>n March of 2020, I don't remember anyone telling me that they knew how serious this pandemic could possibly get. I do remember, though, that there was an effort at work to put together some COVID information on a website-sorta-thing ... hmmm. So I guess I must have been at least somewhat aware that people were getting pretty nervous before they sent me home. Maybe I really *wasn't* paying attention. </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4uGtoSHYRkJTUF9zLi67hWL2x0oQln6GQtSEQtX7zlU8ugtN-xwNBAmeX20qnycP26IHEiljPkbCOzD7MIfgNzcXLY74pdXP9oSac4X9tRoLH4jrdcgLzc9ppGujMz4zJVSiE6ajRafK/s1120/not+paying+attention.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4uGtoSHYRkJTUF9zLi67hWL2x0oQln6GQtSEQtX7zlU8ugtN-xwNBAmeX20qnycP26IHEiljPkbCOzD7MIfgNzcXLY74pdXP9oSac4X9tRoLH4jrdcgLzc9ppGujMz4zJVSiE6ajRafK/s320/not+paying+attention.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div><span> </span>My older sister thinks I just don't 'keep up'. </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>For example: Apparently nobody uses e-mail anymore to communicate, she says. Everybody sends IMs from one platform or another, I guess. I just don't pay attention. No wonder nobody answers my e-mails at work. <i>I'm sorry. Did you say something? </i> </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>I was probably under the impression that this was all 'just another precautionary thing'. Maybe something along the lines of (okay, worse than) 'Legionnaires Disease' or the 'Avian Flu' almost-pandemic that scared people while I was stationed in Italy. At *that* time, there were medical folks warning of a pandemic then and bottles of hand sanitizer were all over. Or, my memory could be all jacked-up and I'm just disremembering things already. </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>In 100 years, I probably won't remember any of this COVID-19/pandemic stuff, either. Which is what happened this time. Except for maybe 1 or 2 people on the planet, every one who was around in 1918 is dead. They didn't have computers to record stuff back then, nobody today knows how to use paper-filing systems, and then there was that big fire at the warehouse in 1942 and all the records were lost, so ...</div><div><br /></div><div> So. Yep. It's been one full year of this global pandemic that's killed well over a half-million Americans. Longer than that, I guess, depending on how you measure it. Was it November/December of 2019 or February of 2020? Regardless, "COVID-19" was what they called it by the time I thought it might be something to take seriously. </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>"COVID-19" is an acronym for: the name of virus (COrona), the word "Virus", the word "Disease", and the year it is said to have begun wreaking havoc upon the planet. It used to have a longer name, something like: "2019 novel coronavirus" or "2019-nCOV" but I would be willing to bet that the short version we all use now is because today's media outlets needed something easier for their people to spell and pronounce because ... well ... that's a whole n'other blog post. But you only hear the longer version used by people who like to show off ... or from <a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/director" target="_blank">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>. He can call it whatever he wants. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFiIQUaQ8ieP1_rX9h6sSDWhn2xVSqU4j7PwnHiyOosupJWWgt2JM7G7wYu1Ezk1ftquzfucaL3ZQxTgX8-GGLyDZLiC5TZwU3hxbMI6_tysush0BA2pUIKie41zNYIGA_dxzYOMKkuAr/s1600/divisiveness.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFiIQUaQ8ieP1_rX9h6sSDWhn2xVSqU4j7PwnHiyOosupJWWgt2JM7G7wYu1Ezk1ftquzfucaL3ZQxTgX8-GGLyDZLiC5TZwU3hxbMI6_tysush0BA2pUIKie41zNYIGA_dxzYOMKkuAr/s320/divisiveness.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span> </span>For a long while, I was calling it 'CORVID-19'. Fortunately, a friend pointed out:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNfyZHq0N4FtMh1I6ustviC_kTd3B5uRNNwR0KWe2W8vXTV9BsXNZnGfCwsok7bKffIn4zrQE7E4oOdRztgehIr0js6lVL-nbE14_t-eZSV2zJkbbsNEB98I5s9_S-0izPFu4oMNevAuc/s593/look+at+it+this+way.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="593" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNfyZHq0N4FtMh1I6ustviC_kTd3B5uRNNwR0KWe2W8vXTV9BsXNZnGfCwsok7bKffIn4zrQE7E4oOdRztgehIr0js6lVL-nbE14_t-eZSV2zJkbbsNEB98I5s9_S-0izPFu4oMNevAuc/s320/look+at+it+this+way.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">"Dude, you're doing it wrong -- you probably still use e-mail, don't you." </span></div><blockquote><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><span> Just now, </span>I was about to type "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuOBzWF0Aws" target="_blank">Google is your friend</a>." </div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span> </span>But I decided there is a better way of expressing "common and actual facts are available by searching the internet on your own." But you need to be careful. You need to be able to exercise some degree of <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/professors-call-bullshit-covid-19-misinformation/" target="_blank">skill in differentiating fact</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1084213533950938740/4477192890822086709#" target="_blank"> from fiction</a>. For example: <a href="https://www.history.com/news/1918-flu-pandemic-never-ended" target="_blank">It is a fact that t</a></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.history.com/news/1918-flu-pandemic-never-ended" target="_blank">he last time people on this planet experienced anything like this was in the year 1918</a>. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/1918-pandemic-history.htm" target="_blank">Most people called it "The Spanish Flu"</a> although it had other names. But it is *not* a fact that there is a:</p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><i>" ... disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And there is a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? As you see, it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that."</i></p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33QdTOyXz3w" target="_blank">There are some things that just don't sound right when heard or seen</a>. Which apparently has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am4Jak1YEiE" target="_blank">no bearing</a> on whether or not people will believe things like that when they hear them based primarily on who says them.)</p></blockquote><p><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/compare-flu-pandemic-1918-and-covid-19-caution-180975040/" target="_blank">Here's a good article from Smithsonian Magazine</a> that compares (and distinguishes differences) between the 1918 pandemic -- that we collectively forgot about that one until this one snuck up on us. Important to note is that "<a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/compare-flu-pandemic-1918-and-covid-19-caution-180975040/" target="_blank">you can't really compare the two</a>." <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/compare-flu-pandemic-1918-and-covid-19-caution-180975040/" target="_blank">The article</a> explains some of the differences.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> As of not too many months ago (i<i>s "It's only been a year" an exaggeration?</i>) it didn't seem that anyone had learned a lot since 1918. Although that may not be exactly accurate.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Except for the fact that occasional mentions were made over the past year in the televised (or 'streaming') news programs (ooo! See? I'm 'current' and 'with it'!) and other media outlets like " ... we have not experienced anything like this pandemic since 1918 ... ", some apparently did learn from prior history that to 'wear masks, maintain social distancing, and close the schools' seemed like a good way to prevent the spread of the flu. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> W</span>hile many people alive today may have even learned 'pandemic lessons' from history (by Googling '<a href="https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/1918-flu-pandemic" target="_blank">Spanish Flu</a>'), it is possible that some may have preferred to sound more current and authoritative by claiming '<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">According to the CDC</a> ... ' or '<a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/director" target="_blank">According to Dr. Fauci</a> ...' or '<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">According to the Johns Hopkins map</a> ...' because nobody wants to claim that they know what they know or think what they think based on something from 1918. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> And </span>masks were different back then. I would imagine that it wasn't very easy to get a 'Hello Kitty' mask or a fashion-coordinated mask to go with your various outfit colors. <a href="https://www.history.com/news/1918-spanish-flu-mask-wearing-resistance" target="_blank">Masks then were made of gauze or other materials even more porous</a>. Who'd wanna wear those?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200508.769108/full/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="757" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVYZgvwF1pS5gUHZDpdOZHTHFXiNDJMblzprFhVgctc4XPtlX1jobT0YVRdhTkTW2NMwx-l1F-vrUDPdFp-MN9E6Eo3vTDJ0RV1LW49cQVn2Z7IZHMUI_ERB_agDPSgeiR801WAuAvkEr/s320/old+masks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span> Also u</span>nlike 2020/2021, they couldn't put together vaccinations in record time against the pandemic they experienced in 1918. And the recommended method then to reduce the chances of getting sick pretty much amounted to - like this time around: 'wash your hands and wear a mask'. We're now all looking forward to reaching '<a href="https://apic.org/monthly_alerts/herd-immunity/#:~:text=Herd%20immunity%20depends%20on%20the,%E2%80%9D%20those%20susceptible%20individuals." target="_blank">herd immunity</a>' via vaccinations. Well, via vaccinations distributed as widely as possible *after* well over a half million people died in the United States alone since the pandemic began. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Sometimes I wonder if some people last year weren't thinking 'just let it go' and handle it like they did a hundred years ago. "<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/02/herd-immunity-might-be-impossible-even-vaccines/617973/" target="_blank">It'll eventually go away after enough people get sick.</a>"</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2020/04/29/protesting-during-a-pandemic-isnt-new-meet-the-anti-mask-league/?sh=6a607e5212f9" target="_blank">In 1918, like now, lots of </a></span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2020/04/29/protesting-during-a-pandemic-isnt-new-meet-the-anti-mask-league/?sh=6a607e5212f9" target="_blank">people didn't like being told what to do by their government either.</a> Just like this time around, some people even thought wearing masks was a bad practice. They held rallies and parties where nobody wore a mask (in a show of defiance of being told what to do) which ended up making the virus spread faster and making more people sicker faster. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>One public service announcement from the Red Cross then even went so far as to publicly state: <a href="https://www.history.com/news/1918-spanish-flu-mask-wearing-resistance" target="_blank">" ... the man or woman or child who will not wear a mask now is a dangerous slacker.</a>" I don't think the Red Cross would be allowed to put out a commercial like that nowadays. President Biden said that wearing one is patriotic ... a little different than telling someone they're an idiot because they don't. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>That last pandemic lasted 2.5 years. We just hit the 1 year-mark today.</p></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4ASgBEcCr87arn1CjAyerVlwIM_Syk5x1nzYRvVw-lHXiTiqrp3M1lM9ge1lAdJpe-BANboHWmNzKmfm9FFGHN8HDsRxVNlZWIzDLJj5EXM-SIETxVMQ9I7HhlTKDf8Ex3blAQmO4hzj/s1536/spanish-flu-ads-007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="On 8 March 2021:" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4ASgBEcCr87arn1CjAyerVlwIM_Syk5x1nzYRvVw-lHXiTiqrp3M1lM9ge1lAdJpe-BANboHWmNzKmfm9FFGHN8HDsRxVNlZWIzDLJj5EXM-SIETxVMQ9I7HhlTKDf8Ex3blAQmO4hzj/w147-h200/spanish-flu-ads-007.jpg" title="On 8 March 2021:" width="147" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCcviqWgpCVBDdFHG4cbNcZRt8A5Z1peHwht0h51nxRULP27FHOFdkBx5Bh26q-iV5zRrYlylHMZyz7uWvfujubU6J87qMvmFMm48zJkPKcA0XBovVbigTQa_Y2Glb2JJfvuBmxJhZUkV/s1800/00xp-virus-1918masks-anti-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="'Mask-burning' held @ Idaho Capitol Building" border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1800" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCcviqWgpCVBDdFHG4cbNcZRt8A5Z1peHwht0h51nxRULP27FHOFdkBx5Bh26q-iV5zRrYlylHMZyz7uWvfujubU6J87qMvmFMm48zJkPKcA0XBovVbigTQa_Y2Glb2JJfvuBmxJhZUkV/w200-h158/00xp-virus-1918masks-anti-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg" title="'Mask-burning' held @ Idaho Capitol Building" width="200" /></a></span></div>Update: 8 March <b>2021</b> - A public mask-burning ceremony held at Idaho Capitol Building<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>... sigh ...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Another DISCLAIMER:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span> </span>As I type *this* sentence, it's the day after Valentine's day, 2021. In addition to this COVID thing, I suffered a personal loss that has affected me to a degree over the past two months or so that my 'perspective' on this whole 'global pandemic' thing, and pretty much everything else in life, has drastically changed. I put this paragraph into this post just in case I need to explain why I maybe have (I'm not sure) or you detect a sort of cavalier attitude about this whole thing (<a href="https://www.mylifeandtimes.org/2021/01/renna.html" target="_blank">see previous post in this blog</a>).</i></div><div><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span> Although many commanders of many federal, state, and local installations; military bases, chain stores like '7-11,' CVS, etc., were making the decision months ago to enforce mask-wearing, social distancing, and taking all sorts of measures to prevent the spread of this thing - i</span>t wasn't declared *mandatory* for masks to be worn (on Federal Property, at least) until after President Joe Biden took a shot at making that the case sometime after 20 January 2021. President Biden's word was 'patriotic.'</div><div><br /></div><div><span> As I type *this* paragraph, it's 5 March, 2021. It's approximately three months after it became mandatory to wear anti-COVID masks by Presidential Executive Order. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndyOXf971yg" target="_blank">And a few days ago, mayors and governors in some U.S. states - Texas</a>, Mississippi - and states (Detroit is the only one I can recall at the moment) have quite dramatically announced that 'mandatory mask wearing' is no longer required and they've lifted this requirement. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndyOXf971yg" target="_blank">I have no words</a> to express how I feel about that nor do I think I'll be done thinking about that prior to posting these rambling paragraphs.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><span> As I currently understand the situation, I am expecting </span></span>to be working from home well into 2021, perhaps into December. But "nobody knows for sure". We'll see.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> This</span><span style="font-size: small;"> pandemic has closed businesses. Large and small. Some permanently, some temporarily. Some have luckily been able to reopen. People have lost their jobs. More people are actually living on the streets. Restaurants have closed. Bars have closed. Retail outlets of all sorts have closed. </span><span> It's trashed the American economy for many many people. As of 10 March 2021, there is a bajillion dollar relief program about to be signed by the President to provide financial relief to individuals, businesses, schools and various other entities and institutions trashed by this pandemic.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XhGqN_We5MzQ5v1sv6CsBEONog7mBCrXb7ggeCk8YglYQ0fmGJ1SFCSr95fK168GXKSkBsOod5fqX6ijlr9my684rELhOnu1PSH9ylwWkOK9xTayo3X0h73grvKWrxTbq4jMlueWttVP/s2048/RIP+Louie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XhGqN_We5MzQ5v1sv6CsBEONog7mBCrXb7ggeCk8YglYQ0fmGJ1SFCSr95fK168GXKSkBsOod5fqX6ijlr9my684rELhOnu1PSH9ylwWkOK9xTayo3X0h73grvKWrxTbq4jMlueWttVP/s320/RIP+Louie.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">The streets are quiet in the early AM hours.</span></p></div></h2><p style="text-align: left;"> This is why I think so many people now, like those during the last pandemic the world experienced, are so impatient to 'return to normal.' It's inconvenient. They can't work and they're *just wanting to 'go back to work'.* Don't care how. Don't care why. They just know that they can't pay bills so they're just wanting to *just go back to work*. This time, however, because of the internet, there really is going to be '<a href="https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/commentaries/detail-hq/from-the-new-normal-to-a-new-future-a-sustainable-response-to-covid-19" target="_blank">a new normal</a>.' </p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span> </span>N</span>owadays, the streets are so quiet. Nervous stares as people pass each other. Heads down, masks on our faces. Oddly, being the grumpy person I am: I am onboard with not having to deal with anyone except the cashier at the 7-11. I only wish I had the job I used to have and found ideal was still possible to hold; one in which it was my responsibility to 'make things happen as planned.' It was a 'people job.' And I found it very validating to hear senior government, military, and civilian leaders I met and chatted with agree with me. "People are stupid," one admiral from a foreign navy said to me once.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p> <span> We were talking about something entirely different at the time and we laughed. But t</span>hat sentence may sum up this whole stupid post and explain why we are in the situation we're in.</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I hope you have a better 2021 than last year.</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- JM -</div>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-35878979454997379122021-01-20T17:10:00.033-05:002023-01-22T14:19:05.590-05:00Renna<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-HDnoabqaHJ_-gH_FBYBGthiOUVW5PtFVPodMTlTV4vxdif0ZPf6RxHcnoEhoJTN0VsNwPIOQn8wCyIkpFRctoDlt7A1uRghGIJFVRlVaAPPR4XS0-PsNMI7freYbiVIusnwAz63gfXC/s627/renna.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="512" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-HDnoabqaHJ_-gH_FBYBGthiOUVW5PtFVPodMTlTV4vxdif0ZPf6RxHcnoEhoJTN0VsNwPIOQn8wCyIkpFRctoDlt7A1uRghGIJFVRlVaAPPR4XS0-PsNMI7freYbiVIusnwAz63gfXC/w97-h118/renna.jpg" width="97" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1992 - 2021<br /><br /><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/GypdianArt/shop?asc=u" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: x-large;">Renna (Irene Nichole Louise) Musser</span></b> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(Proceeds from purchases of <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/GypdianArt/shop?asc=u" target="_blank">Renna's art</a> will go to the American Heart Association.)</i><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeLQB5vyZLmXynZTN6Ze3snaLt3qQWIYJwyiU85X9wOImoeK3l2z9Ngx1Xi_ylyx8o23bnK2RhbFSdnhoCAxczTmcz9e3BflURxcp7MJpZ9Rn_rbQMtApOeydgDxoaXqiHRrkYnd1qHpT/s1000/Renna+Jan+2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeLQB5vyZLmXynZTN6Ze3snaLt3qQWIYJwyiU85X9wOImoeK3l2z9Ngx1Xi_ylyx8o23bnK2RhbFSdnhoCAxczTmcz9e3BflURxcp7MJpZ9Rn_rbQMtApOeydgDxoaXqiHRrkYnd1qHpT/s320/Renna+Jan+2016.jpg" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2_yCVBd8JwphA3Q0gHdYe6p35Y3NupsK8P0fxM4tf5m_rCAEiZXUoaPua3JQwoQdJgNWniUOwmMCBxD4uIb9rCjjAh06VcmbBXehNHpeR0SHrKNjJsn0kgyIODVPbcMQK9rUVdpQK1KJ/s2048/Renna2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2_yCVBd8JwphA3Q0gHdYe6p35Y3NupsK8P0fxM4tf5m_rCAEiZXUoaPua3JQwoQdJgNWniUOwmMCBxD4uIb9rCjjAh06VcmbBXehNHpeR0SHrKNjJsn0kgyIODVPbcMQK9rUVdpQK1KJ/w320-h225/Renna2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zyO3g4LMzRxeLkpJkDDniPZCaYGsdVNjGXVploJBqPyIsQ7EGhlAa3GTWTYKpxVZIrekxIKGRPbZ5hE56VAwAnQWGI9PI-Vgbj3zvUOeEWZRBalHrFvW5RMLnYM28YZlmNh3R76cTG_7/s2048/Renna.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zyO3g4LMzRxeLkpJkDDniPZCaYGsdVNjGXVploJBqPyIsQ7EGhlAa3GTWTYKpxVZIrekxIKGRPbZ5hE56VAwAnQWGI9PI-Vgbj3zvUOeEWZRBalHrFvW5RMLnYM28YZlmNh3R76cTG_7/s320/Renna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Scroll thru her pix & art at:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/i.nicole.7/">https://www.facebook.com/i.nicole.7/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/GypdianArt/explore">https://www.redbubble.com/people/GypdianArt/explore</a></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5AvV_97HzlB5WZQEgx2qyqyIEBruz5HwDpufeuRXK65yhHxfbQaaAbw746Ss8vjYrfqcCC2Ib6IK27czJ22t_192pBDcyhv65FoYYzmHWBEff_O6bZzUsWH4oeVti1gdCjn6aYBlqzfb/s2048/Renna1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1348" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5AvV_97HzlB5WZQEgx2qyqyIEBruz5HwDpufeuRXK65yhHxfbQaaAbw746Ss8vjYrfqcCC2Ib6IK27czJ22t_192pBDcyhv65FoYYzmHWBEff_O6bZzUsWH4oeVti1gdCjn6aYBlqzfb/w212-h320/Renna1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On a hike in Keeseville, NY</span></div></div></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIKRwG-4Y_nUvaxoIFtAHn1Cjcc5xLtY-K8ENNx1SctlkZU4VEzm6ic3kYYCWmnVlcY4epH0F7UClR6eq1jNdKPq9av4w2AVE0eGWUWYWhkoo9yzI8rASw9A44Y9qsTFOaaeebe5B17e5/s1403/Circa+1994+John+and+Renna+Musser.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="972" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIKRwG-4Y_nUvaxoIFtAHn1Cjcc5xLtY-K8ENNx1SctlkZU4VEzm6ic3kYYCWmnVlcY4epH0F7UClR6eq1jNdKPq9av4w2AVE0eGWUWYWhkoo9yzI8rASw9A44Y9qsTFOaaeebe5B17e5/s320/Circa+1994+John+and+Renna+Musser.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Christening, NY/NY</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>During visits to Naples, IT</b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqrpzgohuTS9Qh6UJ2HkweacMuMNc455qEoZYAeuVewwCktFkjsLfMtohoZR2TFSn-wQmKD088-uVt12yx89gAmOWgO47DOiI9g7r5IIJhX-su-4YMzadlbB6GF9-Jxwhu7mIc7ePHSLw/s604/Julia.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqrpzgohuTS9Qh6UJ2HkweacMuMNc455qEoZYAeuVewwCktFkjsLfMtohoZR2TFSn-wQmKD088-uVt12yx89gAmOWgO47DOiI9g7r5IIJhX-su-4YMzadlbB6GF9-Jxwhu7mIc7ePHSLw/w230-h173/Julia.jpeg" width="230" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmsv5m1azxfoqJRARTvzKSdMm1hAC1hLGJNJSmsolFE3chTzCryKfDyZm4PyDEsMuFV2rcwGloTWIxouOe_pgkKFxNvg8zZckyuO98PQqGUCi7y60JjcZ1CEWTuCmMPb2EnMh8p-17Z1c/s333/Alex-crop.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="259" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmsv5m1azxfoqJRARTvzKSdMm1hAC1hLGJNJSmsolFE3chTzCryKfDyZm4PyDEsMuFV2rcwGloTWIxouOe_pgkKFxNvg8zZckyuO98PQqGUCi7y60JjcZ1CEWTuCmMPb2EnMh8p-17Z1c/w210-h270/Alex-crop.jpeg" width="210" /></a> </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQh_9DKn7ssARS0VPG5RH7IBSYlrasTrK2VkVxHYLU4I2w1B0w2XhL02_18ShnFE8it0JXy26VcZdEXKlOjYCEJDG2iX4ni3pQlKY3a5Cwt3UxOMKNR2aVKnvJvbp6VxicguSe8Igr-ST/s532/hat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQh_9DKn7ssARS0VPG5RH7IBSYlrasTrK2VkVxHYLU4I2w1B0w2XhL02_18ShnFE8it0JXy26VcZdEXKlOjYCEJDG2iX4ni3pQlKY3a5Cwt3UxOMKNR2aVKnvJvbp6VxicguSe8Igr-ST/s320/hat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-i9PrOICjKd4t9RIL7eLsNYEVsshqZ_XLMORdoLmFT5Q0Zl0cCsFJL5SKkTHYic3yxZQ7algc8DRrvjyDiuEPs_KthmuMI5nMMPXYFUeDRKBF5Bqxl0yVmODvGFE3kMLUpNomiUf0rgY/s320/Play+Nice+Dec+90.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPk3kVqDRw8yoggFukjUfnj4xezJ1jl1wdF0hAkRrBX6ysAv_YfjGcCz4QBCtlKKy56vN-SIzhhtKmmOPp8SfYDMq5azJUhVFVYnLl7g_ASH4xZd_2bobV0i2oePrF3z99-8wntxK2i5k/s604/nic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPk3kVqDRw8yoggFukjUfnj4xezJ1jl1wdF0hAkRrBX6ysAv_YfjGcCz4QBCtlKKy56vN-SIzhhtKmmOPp8SfYDMq5azJUhVFVYnLl7g_ASH4xZd_2bobV0i2oePrF3z99-8wntxK2i5k/s320/nic.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJUNuoFWPMhMTP1KqtVgVaAJXKzCMW3Rwo1zg8kNTM4xtLqKxcudv4jCIFEABrcVZNXGHOAs6AZY5SRFxZg_jwP7Hc6vdqREcndMt7rpouD59rRFX2JRuMGsm96yxTpKzNk64-h5B06Lk/s638/XMAS.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJUNuoFWPMhMTP1KqtVgVaAJXKzCMW3Rwo1zg8kNTM4xtLqKxcudv4jCIFEABrcVZNXGHOAs6AZY5SRFxZg_jwP7Hc6vdqREcndMt7rpouD59rRFX2JRuMGsm96yxTpKzNk64-h5B06Lk/s320/XMAS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: large;">The world lost a pure soul today,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: large;">Wednesday, 20 January 2021.</span></b></div></div><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SwlAdEnT-do" width="320" youtube-src-id="SwlAdEnT-do"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwlAdEnT-do">Butterfly Kisses</a> (at bedtime)</b></div><p></p>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com5Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy40.8517983 14.2681215.089397696814149 -20.88813 66.614198903185851 49.424369999999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-56462240401999235442019-11-04T17:53:00.002-05:002019-11-04T19:15:38.693-05:00Survey *says* ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_ot_8s-Lf0EljkqjcCobw9qkOnrFgrFZFqGleVSQLJC3qDw1XwxCJD_-Wl2rZqcl19IMyM1i4fuGFh2xHBRR3_9oGkb8fZFqC1lT3S74ZrStSRj3V6LrfBpK5EOiYESyBkD5Z1JdredT/s1600/EDC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="855" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_ot_8s-Lf0EljkqjcCobw9qkOnrFgrFZFqGleVSQLJC3qDw1XwxCJD_-Wl2rZqcl19IMyM1i4fuGFh2xHBRR3_9oGkb8fZFqC1lT3S74ZrStSRj3V6LrfBpK5EOiYESyBkD5Z1JdredT/s400/EDC.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm interested in your opinion:<br />
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Which kind of bag do you prefer to use during your Every Day Carry (EDC)?<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<ul>
<li>Back-pack?</li>
<li>Wheeled bag (the kind w/a retractable handle)?</li>
<li>Tote bag?</li>
<li>Messenger bag?</li>
<li>Briefcase?</li>
<li>Purse?</li>
<li>Just your pockets?</li>
<li>A bag from someplace you've never shopped (except maybe for one of their bags)?</li>
<li>Plastic bag from your pharmacy or grocery store?</li>
</ul>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="319" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZRUre1q9S2u_cYDoVlA40DI1imjzjEQd_5Zfa56Lz1yJlOluG9xj_9L1R2KU-1zIDd67YaYdQltzq5_HUyC3bsweV3dSBfaxLmKCWeKtf_IgAlcTYUz8xbE3iwh575OP2jIl-bVJ5OGX/s200/edc+plastic.JPG" width="178" /><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="682" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2oZTc09o1N2BCL-uYcFIMU_o4eh2pXjdL2QZvEHfWpDnqFgJgdHRZ0OjpzOXNPUq3x7-dg-xeyk8q3oHHEwzEskUfvCRYz7qi7eKrSqodFYXnmk3YoSSEMAjyEdrAwcMqn6jzmASCDBl/s200/EDC+victoria.JPG" width="191" /> <img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="351" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea7HupC4Ntr9kk_NiuxJ1Kgg6qiMDajPuQy8zU5OlqRaUgYOOGDW-vJ57YUyC16zMTsLLwUnSmSUtnzjApp_jry3qcIZLf1XyT_pPOp8A3-qOUTCCuzLZj1sGV6kAYE6pyTzLKEiTBM10/s200/edc+pharmacy.JPG" width="129" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whichever style you prefer: </div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Why do you prefer it over the other styles? </li>
<li>Have you ever used one style and switched to another? Why was that? </li>
<li>What are your opinion(s) about the other 'methods of carrying' your EDC?</li>
</ol>
If you'd rather not be "identified," you may reply/post anonymously in the comments below (I'm pretty sure you can comment anonymously ... if not, lemme know).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
I have been watching 'bag people' (those of us who carry bags to/from work) during the AM and PM Metro runs. There are definitely more people who do than don't use a bag of some type. I have been asking people (yep, total strangers who, after I convince them I'm not nuts, nor am I working for Jimmy Fallon or Kimmel or whoever) for their opinion(s) about the different kinds of bags people use (and the one *they* use). Before I post the pictures of the 'bag people' I've been collecting and what I'm finding out, I'd like to get your opinion. And stuff.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Please provide your answers, feedback, and emotional outbursts where it says "Comments" ... click on the link to "Post a comment" below.</div>
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<div>
Thanks in advance. Film at 11.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>JM(M)</b></div>
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</div>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-86315830970161025372019-11-02T14:11:00.002-04:002019-11-02T22:08:32.849-04:00Amazon's Alexa-thing is 5 Years Old, Smarter Than Me, and I Don't Care<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GeGr4PMFtXeINZJXrIK3EW4fnQPlM9knI-BGC701qemg_a0vQrCEtYnIG4BuUeEL1iP7OtUN3eYYPXwqIxQvkh0GWyxKaQ5tj_li15kMgEy-K1T8Iw1DOyvkX3wgdIAg_LYxNd_Gbs_6/s1600/alexa3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GeGr4PMFtXeINZJXrIK3EW4fnQPlM9knI-BGC701qemg_a0vQrCEtYnIG4BuUeEL1iP7OtUN3eYYPXwqIxQvkh0GWyxKaQ5tj_li15kMgEy-K1T8Iw1DOyvkX3wgdIAg_LYxNd_Gbs_6/s200/alexa3.JPG" width="173" /></a></div>
<br />
I seem to be getting older, too. It's weird.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry, some folks might not like that.<br />
<br />
To avoid offending anyone, I should rephrase:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"As my chrono-biological advancement process progresses, I have been noticing some uniquely odd moments."</span></i></b></blockquote>
<br />
Much better.<br />
<br />
I'm concerned about these "odd moments" because it seems as though I am experiencing a more rapidly increasing version of an already rapid process. I'm pretty sure that my internal clock-system-thing is developing a method for itself to capture these moments because it thinks I'm not paying attention. It's catching the odd moments like a cellphone-camera and sending mental image-alerts to smash into my consciousness (the part that I pay attention to, anyway) and say things like "Hey! Knock it off, you're old." This makes it very hard to deny the fact that I am, indeed, "getting older."<br />
<br />
I've been pretty good at that -- denying it -- until lately.<br />
<br />
So what's the big deal, right? Anybody with half a brain realizes that time doesn't stop and neither does the aging process. While some of us might know how to <i>slow it down</i>, it still doesn't stop (that I know of). And this means that we're all aging whether we bother to notice, or choose to acknowledge it, or to accept it, or not. "Duh," right?<br />
<br />
Well, no. It's not that simple. As I mentioned, it's not something everyone likes to acknowledge. Getting older (so some say) sucks. And if we don't acknowledge something, we very likely just think and believe it's not happening. It's a trick. That's how I came to believe that I'm *not* getting old.<br />
<br />
It's simple: don't accept it. It's a psychotic, sociopath kinda thing. "I don't see it, so it's not there." However, the longer we put off accepting something like this whole aging thing, the more difficult it will be with when our internal control systems begin to throw these yawping signals in our faces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQxaRCYUTnRXngsxp8oUZmXmMPJVV-SpdyMlwAqsRhH36yL9J5aFAKjvc1hB8uwYqQwIeHB71nGKjNFlz1IeBMNG3yC7jmn6ADF61P35i_otmiDnQXCAqtpLcZ6cCVVlmDlq7QbzWV67z/s1600/bill+gates+john%2527s+list.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="490" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQxaRCYUTnRXngsxp8oUZmXmMPJVV-SpdyMlwAqsRhH36yL9J5aFAKjvc1hB8uwYqQwIeHB71nGKjNFlz1IeBMNG3yC7jmn6ADF61P35i_otmiDnQXCAqtpLcZ6cCVVlmDlq7QbzWV67z/s320/bill+gates+john%2527s+list.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been keeping a list of these signals when they pop up. Here are fifteen of them:<br />
<ol>
<li>Keeping a list of things to keep track of things that make me feel like I'm getting older. Only old people do that.</li>
<li>I have also been noticing that, on any given day, my temperament is directly related to which pair of shoes I choose to put on in the morning. </li>
<li>All the Navy Captains and most of the Admirals are younger then I am. When did *that* happen?</li>
<li>I need to be getting ready for bed by 6pm and preferably horizontal in bed by 7. If I'm not, I feel like I've been shorted on sleep when I wake up.</li>
<li>I have *never* heard of *any* of the bands, singers, or people in the Top 10 or Top 40 of anything. I have retreated to NetFlix or AmazonPrime streaming stuff on TV and listening almost entirely to music from the 60s and 70s. I don't watch TV anymore. Commercials make me talk back to the TV and only crazy old people talk to the TV.</li>
<li>Gray hair. I was fortunate enough to not have any until recently ... but now they're sneakin' in.</li>
<li>Hair (in general) that is showing up where there wasn't any before. Like in my nose. What's up with that? What's next? My *ears?*</li>
<li>I like it (and sometimes smile) when a cashier asks "May I see some ID?" This may be a new law or just a trending practice in local binnesses (when selling adult beverages), but it's still cool.</li>
<li>Feeling the need to take naps. I only used to need a nap at the end of the day to rest up for the next day.</li>
<li>Prices of everything are increasing and it pisses me off. I'm almost certain there's a collective conspiracy by all of the companies and corporations to raise their prices faster than my annual income increases. If prices are increasing, so should my paycheck, dammit.</li>
<li>It *really* pisses me off when they move stuff in the supermarket or pharmacy in some misguided attempt to make you see *other* stuff that you won't be buying anyway. It's dumb.</li>
<li>I catch myself telling other people how old I am (like I am now). I recently realized that the only other people who do that a lot are 4-year-olds.</li>
<li>I hear a growing number of people talking about how old *they* are and then fondly remembering things from the 80s like 'Disco,' 'Donna Summer,' and other stuff that I didn't like back then, either.</li>
<li>More and more friends, family members, and celebs are dying. And they're younger than me.</li>
<li>And lastly, at least for now anyway, I am oh so very tired of being told (by anyone and everyone everywhere) who to admire and who to look up to. People to look up to and respect as role models are hard to find and I kind of look at it like an Easter Egg Hunt.<br /><br />And I like finding the Golden Eggs by myself. There are too many yolks in the world.</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPxEPooSlfv9F9bD58GbpYqWjBFXUxZSwfOOvC6RawQuKBBcK-CFHpG-vvDBf8Qecj-c1HhkpAOr5hyphenhyphenb1PQ5S27J0dYTnXdixnDe6wNTI73t3A1-a4M1y1mhqXtSbM5vOGhO9cjuX3v4r/s1600/Golden+Egg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPxEPooSlfv9F9bD58GbpYqWjBFXUxZSwfOOvC6RawQuKBBcK-CFHpG-vvDBf8Qecj-c1HhkpAOr5hyphenhyphenb1PQ5S27J0dYTnXdixnDe6wNTI73t3A1-a4M1y1mhqXtSbM5vOGhO9cjuX3v4r/s320/Golden+Egg.JPG" width="250" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>JM(M)</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-21294270311353424942019-10-29T19:23:00.000-04:002019-10-30T18:52:08.431-04:00Ever Had a Conversation with AMAZON?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7e839q-4DDboE48jDVILhKkoACH8zidYQg38aHVFiY0SVlbpmmeaVhZFtUtrRB12epPePR1o9i1owYcx7W0CQe84RnQiipYL6vtpe16-A9UT6_ceUagdjbvyWNHzJ_p-l-XeKfgroCmZ/s1600/amazon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="499" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7e839q-4DDboE48jDVILhKkoACH8zidYQg38aHVFiY0SVlbpmmeaVhZFtUtrRB12epPePR1o9i1owYcx7W0CQe84RnQiipYL6vtpe16-A9UT6_ceUagdjbvyWNHzJ_p-l-XeKfgroCmZ/s320/amazon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a copy/paste of a conversation I had last night with Amazon Customer Service and then with a representative of 'The Carrier' concerning an item that was delivered, but wasn't, then was ...<br />
<br />
It has been edited for clarity, punctuation, grammar, some narration, and stuff like that:<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
ordered a cellphone case for my new cellphone on Saturday because it read
“Guaranteed Delivery on Monday”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
understood this to mean that it could be as late as 8 or 9 pm. But that was
cool, I needed it for Tuesday. As a rule, I only order stuff that says "Guaranteed Delivery by ______" so I can plan to be around when it's delivered, if possible.</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While at work Monday, I
got the message from Amazon that it was delivered around
10’ish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Great.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s 5 pm’ish.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
being convinced by the concierge that it’s just. Not. There. And then looking
around myself for about another hour, I go up to the apartment and connect to
Amazon Customer Service.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Silly
me … I thought it was going to be a person.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hi! It's Amazon's
messaging assistant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, what can I help
you with?<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An item I ordered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let's see. Could you
select the item you're looking for from your recent orders below?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">6:40 PM</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYq4SCLunLqdpKTfVtuaYOpciI-EMM732iaS3GRrk_pOkOn4gZJE2H3rGzUz8zVfXkGKTBz2KFTb532ig6nVouFADp1UumU3Kbb1fQCTlbhgXMc7GI0wQGmrVw50RCx_RBTACsjZCkefcl/s1600/phone+case.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="534" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYq4SCLunLqdpKTfVtuaYOpciI-EMM732iaS3GRrk_pOkOn4gZJE2H3rGzUz8zVfXkGKTBz2KFTb532ig6nVouFADp1UumU3Kbb1fQCTlbhgXMc7GI0wQGmrVw50RCx_RBTACsjZCkefcl/s200/phone+case.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41IYVQu0V0L._SS200_.jpg"
style='width:75pt;height:75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\John\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="41IYVQu0V0L._SS200_"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Looks like this item
was delivered on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Could you confirm what
went wrong, so I can help?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Didn’t get it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sorry to hear that.
Tell me a little more about what happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Package never arrived<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">OK, looks like the delivery
status may have been updated too soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The good news is it
should arrive soon. Give us until end of day Tue, Oct 29.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Really appreciate your
patience with this. Is there anything else I can help with?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, I have a
different question<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, what can I help
you with?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:40 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An item I ordered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let's see. Could you
select the item you're looking for from your recent orders below?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">6:41 PM</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYq4SCLunLqdpKTfVtuaYOpciI-EMM732iaS3GRrk_pOkOn4gZJE2H3rGzUz8zVfXkGKTBz2KFTb532ig6nVouFADp1UumU3Kbb1fQCTlbhgXMc7GI0wQGmrVw50RCx_RBTACsjZCkefcl/s1600/phone+case.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="534" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYq4SCLunLqdpKTfVtuaYOpciI-EMM732iaS3GRrk_pOkOn4gZJE2H3rGzUz8zVfXkGKTBz2KFTb532ig6nVouFADp1UumU3Kbb1fQCTlbhgXMc7GI0wQGmrVw50RCx_RBTACsjZCkefcl/s200/phone+case.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(218, 218, 218); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Messaging Assistant | Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Looks like this item was delivered on Monday.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Didn’t get it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sorry to hear that.
Tell me a little more about what happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Package never arrived<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">OK, looks like the
delivery status may have been updated too soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The good news is it
should arrive soon. Give us until end of day Tue, Oct 29.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Really appreciate your
patience with this. Is there anything else I can help with?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, I have a
different question<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, what can I help
you with?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An item I ordered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let's see. Could you
select the item you're looking for from your recent orders below?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">6:41 PM</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYq4SCLunLqdpKTfVtuaYOpciI-EMM732iaS3GRrk_pOkOn4gZJE2H3rGzUz8zVfXkGKTBz2KFTb532ig6nVouFADp1UumU3Kbb1fQCTlbhgXMc7GI0wQGmrVw50RCx_RBTACsjZCkefcl/s1600/phone+case.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="534" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYq4SCLunLqdpKTfVtuaYOpciI-EMM732iaS3GRrk_pOkOn4gZJE2H3rGzUz8zVfXkGKTBz2KFTb532ig6nVouFADp1UumU3Kbb1fQCTlbhgXMc7GI0wQGmrVw50RCx_RBTACsjZCkefcl/s200/phone+case.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(218, 218, 218); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Messaging Assistant | Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Looks like this item was delivered on Monday.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">6:41 PM</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Didn’t get it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sorry to hear that.
Tell me a little more about what happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Need a Customer
Service Associate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">OK, I'll get someone
to help you here through chat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">OK, get help through
chat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messaging Assistant |
Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Go ahead and type any
details you think would help them understand your issue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:41 PM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">YAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A person!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.2pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #6c7778; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">MICHELLE
HAS JOINED & WILL BE READY TO CHAT IN JUST A MINUTE.</span></b><b><span style="color: #6c7778; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michelle | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hello John,I
understand that you have a concern about your order.I am more than happy
assisting you today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">M</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:43 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is at least the
THIRD TIME that I've ordered something *specifically* because it was to be
delivered by a certain date ... and it hasn't. "The delivery date was
updated too soon?!" C'mon ... if I need an item that I ordered on Friday
or Saturday to be here MONDAY (even by Monday night is good) ... and Amazon
says "It'll be there." So we can't trust that? Is that what we're
saying here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Not mad at you, I
know you're just 'the messenger,' but --) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">REALLY? C'mon Amazon,
what's up?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:44 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michelle | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm sorry for the
inconvenience you've experienced in this case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Could you please allow
me a minute while I look in to this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:45 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">... sure. Do you wanna picture like Alexa did?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:45 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michelle | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No, that's not necessary, but thank you for being so helpful!</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I can see here that
your item was tagged as delivered today at 10:53:49 AM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:47 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But it's not "in
the mailroom," the reception desk doesn't have it (the delivery guys often
mark 'Left in Mailroom' when it was given to the receptionist, anyway) ... and
it isn't in my mailbox (it's only a cellphone cover) ... it's not here. :/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:48 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michelle | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh I see.by the way
did you tried to contact the carrier about this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:49 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How would I go about
doing that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:50 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michelle | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I can give you their
contact number or I will just connect you to their department now via chat
also.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">May I know which do
you prefer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:50 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sure ... does the
carrier have a guarantee policy for when packages aren't delivered as the
system says they were?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:51 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michelle | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">kindly stay connected
while I am transferring you to their department.Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:51 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My issue: The system
says 'Package delivered.' But it's not. The Amazon system says it was
delivered, my computer got the message that it was delivered, and I'm pretty
sure the carrier's system says it was delivered. But it's not here. So what do
we do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:53 PM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">YAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*Another* person!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #6c7778; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">BRIAN
LANCE HAS JOINED & WILL BE READY TO CHAT IN JUST A MINUTE.</span></b><b><span style="color: #6c7778; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hello, my name is
Brian. Please give me a moment to review the previous correspondence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:54 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">K. Do you wanna picture of it like Alexa did?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:54 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hi John. Who's Alexa? Oh. Very funny.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you for
being a prime member, I apologize if you haven't received your package yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Can you please provide
the shipment address on the account so I can check where it was delivered to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:56 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">** EDITED OUT for
PRIVACY **<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:56 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So normally if the
driver delivers the package and tagged it as delivered to the mailroom it is
handed to the receptionist correct?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:57 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Either or ... there
are several options they have, don't know what motivates them to pick which
one. If it is tagged "delivered to the mailroom," one would THINK
it's in my mailbox ... sometimes it is, but it's *usually* given to the
receptionist (they have bins at the front desk and they mark all packages with
a Sharpie and file them/stack them in order) ... we looked, it's not here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6:59 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay I see thank you
for that information. As per checking there was a second scan made indicating
the package was already been delivered and not a mis-scan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So the next step would
be waiting for the grace period to pass on. For us to refund the product as we
have a grace period here in Amazon before we consider the item lost or missing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:01 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">?! How long is that !?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:02 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That would be by
tomorrow John. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>(A good salesman believes that he uses first names because customers supposedly like it ... it annoys me.)</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the grace
period of the package.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:02 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wow, Brian. So, my original
question comes back again: ... if I need an item that I ordered on
Friday or Saturday to be here on Monday, Brian ... and
Amazon says "It'll be there," I can't trust that, Brian? Is that what we're
saying, Brian?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then the
"Guaranteed delivery by __________ " means what, Brian? There's no
guarantee, basically?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What's funny is,
another case I ordered (shipping from China) because of this mess may very likely arrive sooner than
this one with a "guaranteed" delivery date of TODAY from a local fulfillment warehouse. :/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:05 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This package was
delivered on time wasn't it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:06 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ummm, nope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:06 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Its just not there
correct?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Delivered on: Monday,
October 28, 2019 On Guaranteed Delivery Date”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:06 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian. If it's *not here,*
but the system says it was , that's delivered?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:07 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was delivered.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:07 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But it *wasn't!*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:07 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As long as its
delivered its delivered.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It just wasn't
received.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:07 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delivered
= "here." "Not here" = Not delivered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:08 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But it * was *
delivered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:08 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay, "not
received" means ... what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:08 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Delivered = * not here
* = missing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I know right. Its
funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:08 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">AH! So if it doesn't
show up by 8pm tomorrow ... we're going to say "It was delivered, but it
disappeared or was stolen, so we'll send you another one?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:08 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As long as its
delivered on our end its delivered but it hasn't been received.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:09 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay ... "company
lingo," I guess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:09 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes we can resend
another one if its not from a third party seller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:09 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But I still don't have
my case for my $1000 phone (which I hope I don't drop until my case gets here!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lemme check ... </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sold by: EasyAcc.A
Store <= does that mean 3rd party seller?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:10 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:10 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So! NOW what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:10 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The only option for
third party seller products are refund.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:11 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You *know* this thing
only cost $5.29, right?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:11 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:11 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So we're going to
leave it at: "If it's not here by 8pm tomorrow (well, if *I don't have it
in my hands* by 8pm, even if the computer *says* I do!) ... then I come back
here for a refund and I reorder another one?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:12 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes John.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:12 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks for using my name so much, Brian. It soothes my nerves.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Please thank Alexa and Michelle for me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:13 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hah hah. Sure. I'm really sorry that
is normally how it goes for packages that are delivered and not received on the
same day. We advise to wait up until tomorrow since package can either show up
or be found by the next day and if not we do process the necessary actions
available for the item.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I do want to prevent
this from happening again would you like to include or update the delivery
instructions on the account?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:14 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay ... I still think
the "Guaranteed to be delivered by" needs some work ... YES -- I'll
have to update the delivery instructions to read: "HAND-DELIVER ALL
PACKAGES TO RECEPTIONIST, *NOT* MAILROOM" Do you think that would work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">( ... actually, I
thought I did that at one point already ... )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:16 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh yea I can
definitely include that one and add a preferences on just deliver it to the
receptionist as an option on the account hold on.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Done.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We appreciate your
feedback on that one John thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:16 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #DADADA; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And you'll be sending me a
complimentary AMAZON t-shirt for my troubles, right? :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:17 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As much as I would
love to give out a tshirt for you. Unfortunately I'm very limited to only
giving out promotional certificate will that work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:17 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sure! Can I use it to
order another cellphone case?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:18 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
Brian Lance | Customer Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hah hah. Well, you can use it on
items that are sold and fulfilled by Amazon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:18 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
That's the trick, then ... I need to remember that "Don't order from 3rd Party
guys." Promo cert. would be great, thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
7:18 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Lance | Customer
Service</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hah hah that's all good.
Anything else I can help you with today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'll send you the
promotional certificate information via e-mail okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the case please do
contact us tomorrow if its still not found the next associate will assist you
on where we left off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8e8e8e; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">7:20 PM</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sure ... thanks for
your help ... I hope I don't drop my phone until 8pm tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Brian also recommended a case by "RINGKE," which I also purchased ... and then ...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
case arrived (again – I guess it ‘re-arrived’) -- 15 minutes after our
conversation ended.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have also now updated my default "Special Delivery Instructions" to read:</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>UNDER PENALTY OF SEVERE HUMILIATION BY PYGMY CANNIBALS: </b></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>HAND-DELIVER *ALL* PACKAGES TO RECEPTIONIST, *NOT* MAILROOM" REPEAT: HAND-DELIVER TO FRONT DESK PERSONNAL *ONLY*</b></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">30 October Update: The 2nd cellphone case (the one Brian recommended) arrived today:</span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: center;"><br /></b>
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<b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: center;"><br /></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jf1-Qtuv7pR2C0A-wmN1Ve7MkhDFATruX3IIcFqxuUGHuaZi5LqN2IYG-guwjsXKhswGJiAXYSVYMQrPQqvziwpVPaOGGUg6ZS26qdg-I-MUUMiDdj5-K9OecRbJSSl4T0lkFCZ2nl89/s1600/amazon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="499" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jf1-Qtuv7pR2C0A-wmN1Ve7MkhDFATruX3IIcFqxuUGHuaZi5LqN2IYG-guwjsXKhswGJiAXYSVYMQrPQqvziwpVPaOGGUg6ZS26qdg-I-MUUMiDdj5-K9OecRbJSSl4T0lkFCZ2nl89/s320/amazon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>JM(M)</b></div>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-28330225676229122952019-10-11T16:29:00.002-04:002019-10-14T08:45:22.890-04:00New Fiscal Year: New Round of Phone ScamcallsLast month, I got a call from a number I didn't know. So I didn't answer. That's normally how it works.<br />
<br />
I answered one last week, though, just because I was bored. The gentleman was calling me with an invitation to a *job interview* at the Pentagon!<br />
<br />
Go figure.<br />
<br />
But last month, my bus was late so I called the unknown number back just for giggles ... an elderly woman answered and proceeded to cuss me out for calling her from my 'blankity blank' Pakistan call center and trying to scam *her*. This lady had called me because she was calling *me* back to bitch about my scam call to her.<br />
<br />
We're friends now ... on Facebook.<br />
<br />
I've now started calling these numbers back, too, since I've learned more about this "spoofing" thing. I'm working on a routine just in case I get lucky and I get a spammer in a call center one of these days.<br />
<br />
15 minutes ago, I called a number from a call I missed about 5 minutes earlier.
They answered:<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcXnxoKWMApRMMKtldjCwxHea8LKu1Obnvqh4XucGa7W7pAWdoBW2BlCpSU_QfnAPvshRz4858ujQXeiYzTdWy6fTfkAkpro1IZD4YnL3KABw2Ws1eBybkKQCcDPC2FoYS7buhMZJ3SSc/s1600/Hanger+Clinic+-+Prosthetics+%2526+Orthotics.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcXnxoKWMApRMMKtldjCwxHea8LKu1Obnvqh4XucGa7W7pAWdoBW2BlCpSU_QfnAPvshRz4858ujQXeiYzTdWy6fTfkAkpro1IZD4YnL3KABw2Ws1eBybkKQCcDPC2FoYS7buhMZJ3SSc/s1600/Hanger+Clinic+-+Prosthetics+%2526+Orthotics.PNG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Hello, <a href="http://www.hangerclinic.com/locations/pages/Washington-DC-Irving-Street-NW.aspx" target="_blank">Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics</a>, can I help you?!" </div>
<br />
<br />
Gaaahhh!!! Yep. Nope, they hadn't called me, the lady on the other end of the phone (that's a dated expression, right?) told me that someone has been making 'scam calls' with their number and she was very sorry and nice and apologetic. I thought about becoming Facebook buddies with a prosthetics clinic, but that's kinda creepy, right? So we politely finished our chat and I thought I'd tell you about it.<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As a matter of fact, as I finish typing this, that same number for fake body parts (now blocked) is calling me back; caller ID: "Spam Risk." BAM.<br />
<br />
FCC's advice (and mine):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-align: center;"><b>If you don't know the number, don't answer ... unless it's for a job interview.</b></span></blockquote>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-30112850571570956092019-04-03T18:23:00.004-04:002021-03-24T08:07:40.733-04:00Gaaaaaaaaah!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Conversation in the Metro"</b></div>
<br />
A girl on her cellphone is having a ... conversation ... with someone on her cellphone.<br />
<br />
It's a loud ... conversation. She's behind me as we walk through the tunnels:<br />
<br />
Girl on cellphone: "I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "So I said, 'Marie, you ...' I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "And then ... I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "And Marcus, he just ... I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "So - Listen! I know, right?"<br />
<br />
I probably should have been laughing to myself but, this kid had one of those voices that made me wince. It hurt. <div><br /></div><div>So I picked up the pace and tried to discreetly up my stride in an effort to reduce her volume a little.<br />
<br />
Girl on cellphone: "That was ... I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "Yeah, and ... I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "Marcus was there, too ... I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "And then Marcus, he ... I know, right?"<br />
Girl on cellphone: "No. Really. I know, right?!"<br />
<br />
It wasn't working. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since my first attempt to avoid the droning one-sided-yakathon-screecher-conversation failed, I took a shortcut through a parking garage. Leaving the tunnel should have, A-squared plus B-squared equals, given me about 10 yards or better when I cut back into the tunnel by the Korean guy's store. I thought that would easily take care of Little Miss Monologue.<br />
<br />
And -- it didn't work.
<br />
<br />
I must have slowed down or she sped up during my shortcut-trick. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or she ran, more likely, because she was obviously <i>sent by the Devil</i> to annoy me.<br />
<br />
Yep. As I reentered the tunnel, there she was. Right behind me. Again.<br />
<br />
Girl on cellphone: <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Hey! Weren't you just in front of me before?"</b></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Me:</span></b> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bDPua76Fw9lt2V7eykgpmXxxh6YpJZMFZ6plzyIx8U21HQn3upvBlc7zGifh7mPcBkr6Wb4MIVEf9jm0utsFVlryQuFGchj2ugWxQRPojEsL2VyfwmQzTA_OShkjsXYHycy-Ng7pKq0j/s1600/i+know.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="609" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bDPua76Fw9lt2V7eykgpmXxxh6YpJZMFZ6plzyIx8U21HQn3upvBlc7zGifh7mPcBkr6Wb4MIVEf9jm0utsFVlryQuFGchj2ugWxQRPojEsL2VyfwmQzTA_OShkjsXYHycy-Ng7pKq0j/s400/i+know.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">-- JM --</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div></div>John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-8800518660242157902019-01-29T15:57:00.000-05:002019-01-29T17:20:12.341-05:00I'm Batman.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1N5BDcMc7OM186mWh0f84IbPp-OB5l2UXhOYv_rUzPKk5V3KjTYClefmxbZTJy8oGGqirm7qmgPrLES-56FdPAf3glTfnEN_UECPzI6sjvD81D8raCKffZgSCkd30Ye_ZqL2Es3ek0LA/s1600/AA+ID.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="399" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1N5BDcMc7OM186mWh0f84IbPp-OB5l2UXhOYv_rUzPKk5V3KjTYClefmxbZTJy8oGGqirm7qmgPrLES-56FdPAf3glTfnEN_UECPzI6sjvD81D8raCKffZgSCkd30Ye_ZqL2Es3ek0LA/s400/AA+ID.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This AA Flight Attendant would be almost 90 today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<div>
On the walk to work this morning, I found a young woman's American Airlines ID card and some miscellaneous AA badges on the floor in the Crystal City Shops tunnel. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They belonged, I was pretty sure, to one of the pilots, navigators, or flight attendants, etc., who often stay in our building during their layovers or whatever they call them. And I was almost as sure that she dropped them this morning in the middle of her trip to the airport. If this were a Saturday or Sunday morning, I'd have taken them back to the apartment building. But today was (well, okay: is) Tuesday, so it was more likely that she'd soon be arriving at the Metro station entrance (which wasn't even open yet) and I'd be there in about 5 minutes. Her train wouldn't be leaving for almost an hour. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also reasoned that she probably didn't even know they were gone yet. She probably wouldn't notice they were missing until she tried to board her flight or go through whatever door 'they' go through that 'we' aren't supposed to. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That would suck.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJOx8fOsvCGf_4Qhe5h-hbMnnuDZWCNcfYolcUMDj5ssazRC12mT-24zvyZe5Ix3hmfkOqhnmmZvGrO_n78tqCyOrf10d_l6X-IrMi5ViZXQ-aKvc3YJH8HjYl6BrRXRwgG6O1LLJCOfi/s1600/NO+AA+BADGE.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="870" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJOx8fOsvCGf_4Qhe5h-hbMnnuDZWCNcfYolcUMDj5ssazRC12mT-24zvyZe5Ix3hmfkOqhnmmZvGrO_n78tqCyOrf10d_l6X-IrMi5ViZXQ-aKvc3YJH8HjYl6BrRXRwgG6O1LLJCOfi/s400/NO+AA+BADGE.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
If she realized her ID was gone before her train to the airport arrived she'd likely head back to the apartments to trace her steps in hopes she'd find what I found. And, I thought, if I didn't see her on my way to the Metro station, I'd just take them back to the apartment building at the end of the day and leave them at the front desk ... they may even know who to call at AA and advise that they'd been found.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So when I got to the station, there she was. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Completely oblivious. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She was staring at something invisible on the ground and trying to pretend she couldn't smell the homeless guy. Who smelled like day old pee. You can smell him from 20 yards away - 30 if the wind from the tunnel is good enough. He's usually there early in the mornings when it's cold. The gate to the Metro Station wasn't open yet. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I walked toward her (she matched the photo on one of the badges) and she backed away like I was attacking her. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"S'this you?"<br />
<br />
I held up her badge so she could see her picture. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was way early and I'm not exactly a smiley pleasant guy to strangers in the morning (unless that's my job and I'm working), especially when I'm standing five feet away from a guy who smells very strongly of old pee and whatever else he hasn't washed off -- so I didn't blame her for backing off initially.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh my God!" she gasped.<br />
<br />
It was like I just did a really cool magic trick. I looked at the front of her badge to check in case something other than her picture wasn't on it and I didn't, for some reason, think a picture of some dude looked like her.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh my God!" she said again as she checked her American Airlines scarf and her American Airlines lanyard (where her American Airlines ID wasn't). And I'm still holding out her badge.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She also fumble-checked the hidden compartment on the back of her special American Airlines-issued "fits-perfectly-in-the-overhead-compartment" flight attendant kit. It wasn't there either. And I'm still holding out her badge.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was kinda wondering what she was checking for ... did she think I was holding out a badge that looked like hers but wasn't really hers? Maybe she had an extra. "I'm good, I have one of those already." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh my God!" she said again. "Thank you thank you!"<br />
<br />
She was probably tired, too. She had no other words, really.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You're welcome, ma'am."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8iS9z56BlI47iwFnVnCzRyC0tpcvOiq58Y2Wp1AjX5po4sFoOjb2oftiRQOiQNtbYfZeDrRVpBE4_Z6mo8nIKRbuuC6NOg86gclWi9zc2_45LChuMfp-0-JD3ZkFLfInmttY0Dmct7VW/s1600/IM+BATMAN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="288" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8iS9z56BlI47iwFnVnCzRyC0tpcvOiq58Y2Wp1AjX5po4sFoOjb2oftiRQOiQNtbYfZeDrRVpBE4_Z6mo8nIKRbuuC6NOg86gclWi9zc2_45LChuMfp-0-JD3ZkFLfInmttY0Dmct7VW/s640/IM+BATMAN.JPG" width="410" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm Batman.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Who else needs help?</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>JM(M)</b></div>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-39075137073307525332019-01-27T14:57:00.000-05:002019-01-28T07:38:51.053-05:00Being sick sucksFortunately I don't get sick all that often. Well, besides the various parts and things that have 'gone bad' after so much mileage anyway. Let me amend that: "I don't get a cold that often."<br />
<br />
But when I do, it seems like it hangs around for waaaaaaay too long. And I get grumpy.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDffvcsc2yEFchNgDT6tJsiQJtvyovgTHEP-mkRKx7TQbZvbFcK4MaBHGyfRibc4TLNW-yuebar-dO9Z8M-CF-XLCApcXo1Isxo-57TV8DdXp78vL8ZROHoNSzvvPbGyAgCuMGC9f83KX/s1600/joker+sick.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="734" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDffvcsc2yEFchNgDT6tJsiQJtvyovgTHEP-mkRKx7TQbZvbFcK4MaBHGyfRibc4TLNW-yuebar-dO9Z8M-CF-XLCApcXo1Isxo-57TV8DdXp78vL8ZROHoNSzvvPbGyAgCuMGC9f83KX/s400/joker+sick.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Some folks stay home from work until they feel better. I'll stay out of work for whatever period of time that I feel I must be 'infectious' and then I'll go back. I do that mainly to prevent work from piling up ... because, although someone would do my work if I *died* (meaning, I know that I no longer have any unique skills where I am and can be easily replaced where I am now), when it's known I'll eventually be coming back nobody will touch anything that's not on fire and that means all the stuff I'm responsible for doing will just keep piling up.<br />
<br />
S'just the way it is. Ain't nobody got time for that!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd58R96bb8RSf7muQqFwsTLmZ6lkUX219dbAnLcc9WZ1SOUBpe2z_Acc_5zINKgL8No-QGHi8BKnePkNU6UN2l5LUNZAbub2mAIwsVVDF2LG1TazcJX2nFLiPaVtSepUc9qJJ4Y_S3veQ/s1600/still+sick.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="733" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd58R96bb8RSf7muQqFwsTLmZ6lkUX219dbAnLcc9WZ1SOUBpe2z_Acc_5zINKgL8No-QGHi8BKnePkNU6UN2l5LUNZAbub2mAIwsVVDF2LG1TazcJX2nFLiPaVtSepUc9qJJ4Y_S3veQ/s400/still+sick.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In case you're wondering (and I'm guessing you weren't until you read this particular sentence), the lady (above) who made the "Ain't Nobody Got Time For That" memes possible had some small modicum of success after her apartment complex caught fire in 2014. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since that time, Ms. Brown appeared on TV shows, in a Tyler Perry movie, and created a line of t-shirts and barbecue sauces. According to a recent check of the interwebs, however, she still lives in the same apartment complex where she was in 2014 when the famous video was shot of her following the fire there.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/waEC-8GFTP4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/waEC-8GFTP4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So ... some three or so weeks since I took a whopping 2 sick days and 1 4-day weekend after that, I'm still feeling kinda crappy ... and it's hard to be blogivated when you feel crappy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's kinda like feeling like you missed the boat you wanted but know there's another one due to come by. You just don't know when.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoCZh4JATf6xge6VgN11QWUL7T5IaO6MdDAyDUF0SeMceH-nxAERxgzbs6dWPTaqdNmJOqTri9sVR29tDT00W8T2QSe5AO0tLTfweihRLv7QbK5bx41axlkBsggXLnIKekLVVdQ4AAzk4/s1600/patience.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="593" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoCZh4JATf6xge6VgN11QWUL7T5IaO6MdDAyDUF0SeMceH-nxAERxgzbs6dWPTaqdNmJOqTri9sVR29tDT00W8T2QSe5AO0tLTfweihRLv7QbK5bx41axlkBsggXLnIKekLVVdQ4AAzk4/s320/patience.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>JM(M)</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-29683535269459327412019-01-23T15:20:00.002-05:002019-05-06T05:11:08.971-04:00Shhh ... don't tell ...One of the good things about the fact that my wife doesn't read this blog: I can post this video of her that she hates because she thinks it's like a memorial for someone no longer walking the face of this Earth. She'll never know it's here.<br>
<br>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JwkE1gULD20/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JwkE1gULD20?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Permission was given to use the accompanying audio track.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>JM(M)</b></span></div>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-50268328756307603052019-01-20T13:28:00.000-05:002019-04-03T14:02:49.380-04:00You can't always believe what you see ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH2VX6INcyaTUtpnPZn6hheGFWwzNzRgcWboQlXrnj4AuXTj68wYqOL_ji58aI72SiSrFHmrCgxC180J8Akys99lqOop2rzvrWWhTFecbw_ZHPMcNLs_5QHeguz2naw7gweqRCtUQTaZe/s1600/twilight+zone.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="229" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH2VX6INcyaTUtpnPZn6hheGFWwzNzRgcWboQlXrnj4AuXTj68wYqOL_ji58aI72SiSrFHmrCgxC180J8Akys99lqOop2rzvrWWhTFecbw_ZHPMcNLs_5QHeguz2naw7gweqRCtUQTaZe/s640/twilight+zone.PNG" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Should you believe that what you see on TV and social media </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">are <br />accurate portrayals of events as they really happened?</span></div>
</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTeakyC_KikyylY5eIbSL0VaCwvgg7bd6bR0sZ_T5l_eLnYeTWV720lLT5Lag9JOQgtP4Q6GM2xovAYD1AKEiIagmOj8FVXE1l980F3z26DThfUDdmxZ7RMhgsMfpyBxl_TVwlrsrvH2p/s1600/smiling+kid.PNG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="777" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTeakyC_KikyylY5eIbSL0VaCwvgg7bd6bR0sZ_T5l_eLnYeTWV720lLT5Lag9JOQgtP4Q6GM2xovAYD1AKEiIagmOj8FVXE1l980F3z26DThfUDdmxZ7RMhgsMfpyBxl_TVwlrsrvH2p/s400/smiling+kid.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This young man in the photo above (identified as Nick Sandmann) was waiting for his school group to gather for their bus trip home to Kentucky when he ended up in the middle of a viral news event. Until I began poking around for different versions of this event (mostly on YouTube.Com) I was lead to believe by the initially available video clip that the young man was harassing the older man, identified as Nathan Phillips, an apparent regular to the National Mall who makes annual appearances at this location. I thought, just from the photo, and then from the viral video: "What a rude little smartass." Then I saw another video-clip of nearly the same scene and thought "What rude little kids, they're making fun of the old man. Where are their chaperones?" Then I went digging for more video.<br />
<br />
<b>Imagine if you will:</b><br />
<br />
A young man being accosted by someone 'in his face.' A young man being surrounded by a crowd, who has nowhere to go, and is actually afraid. Is it possible that he is a young man who has been taught not to run when confronted or when he feels threatened. Is it possible that this young man smiles when he's nervous or because he knows there are a dozen or more smartphone cameras pointed at him?<br />
<br />
Might knowing the circumstances in which the picture was taken alter its message? It's statement?<br />
<br />
There are more than a few videos of the above incident to be found which present different interpretations of the events surrounding the popular images of the smiling boy and the chanting old man.<br />
<br />
Here are a few videos of the events of that day, all presenting the events differently:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zrnhef3UvIw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zrnhef3UvIw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Version 1</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hp4oUBTS0DM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hp4oUBTS0DM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Version 2</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eGiVylLJeJQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eGiVylLJeJQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Version 3</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WzJU1L-1VrE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WzJU1L-1VrE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Version 4</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Exactly what happened there? I can't be sure.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, if you weren't there, you don't know and can't answer the question, either. You can't know what you don't know. No matter what happens in real life, if the only available version of 'the events as they unfolded' is what someone else said, wrote, or edited video or audio: you can't be sure what really happened. You just can't.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9Gy3OYiyRTGUlVVDx605ucISQJOiR7k-vQ55YBxEQz_MbhzFDCTJ0cyENM_r5atq4bYQ8j-rupEU2Pb_BYB8pxDI19Bt38Rvo0h_-HkOBnNxmvOgVe0p_ELvOZLTtYf1-ain0KFlwbgt/s1600/How+to+know+for+sure..PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="488" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9Gy3OYiyRTGUlVVDx605ucISQJOiR7k-vQ55YBxEQz_MbhzFDCTJ0cyENM_r5atq4bYQ8j-rupEU2Pb_BYB8pxDI19Bt38Rvo0h_-HkOBnNxmvOgVe0p_ELvOZLTtYf1-ain0KFlwbgt/s400/How+to+know+for+sure..PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo of the January 2019 total lunar eclipse was taken by me. But you'll<br />
have to take my word for it. I was there and you weren't, so ... did it really happen?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">But! This way of thinking is also how you end up with 'Truthers' who believe the government flew remote-controlled planes into The World Trade Center in NYC, into a field in PA, and the Pentagon on 9-11. It's thinking like this which gives rise to people who are sure that mankind never landed on the moon or that there was no Holocaust in Nazi Germany.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>JM(M)<br /></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>UPDATE: (21 Jan., 0430) on the viral "Kid vs. Old man" story:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/native-american-veteran-nathan-phillips-viral-video-confrontation-speaks-out-covington-catholic-high-school-students"><b> CLICK HERE TO SEE UPDATE</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
<i>(According to Mr. Phillips, the kid blocked his way and, he told reporter David Begnaud</i><i> in an interview w/CBSN that he hopes the kid will " ... live a good life and treat people with respect and treat himself with respect. To forgive himself, you know. To forgive others. Treat each other, treat others the way he wanted to be treated."</i><i>)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>FINAL UPDATE: A quick search for updates re: this incident will show you that most all aware of this incident have come to believe that the incident was made into something it was not by agenda-driven media outlets and others. The kid(s) from Covington are suing CNN and others ... good on 'em.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/maga-hat-teen-nick-sandmann-releases-statement-about-controversy-no-will-will-1298731"><b> CLICK HERE FOR STATEMENT FROM 'THE MAGA-HAT KID'</b></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><br /></b>
<i><br /></i>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-68762619126765052532019-01-14T20:18:00.002-05:002019-01-14T20:24:47.045-05:00Just in case you haven't noticed and are affected: 2-hour delay tomorrow for DC Feds ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL32lD2GjOROD4ibgTZDVj-JvxD08e_k9wUpgAbSxjupKHckD0X_9BFfjhx8lkiT0czu435tZSGb6VaKCjyPSlfyYqgYoAwwSPAh_Ns8xSUd4NiFHC_Z03lj-YLVuMeGgpiE_SFlqIA3y/s1600/Snow+LATE.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="636" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL32lD2GjOROD4ibgTZDVj-JvxD08e_k9wUpgAbSxjupKHckD0X_9BFfjhx8lkiT0czu435tZSGb6VaKCjyPSlfyYqgYoAwwSPAh_Ns8xSUd4NiFHC_Z03lj-YLVuMeGgpiE_SFlqIA3y/s400/Snow+LATE.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuesday, 15 Jan: 2-hour delay for DC Feds -- Good luck this weekend!<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>JM(M)</b></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-18618009722301277632019-01-13T23:26:00.000-05:002019-01-13T23:26:12.118-05:00Paid snow day ... except for those already furloughed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EUjl3hoUPQov8mT8kWe8Fv-n42R8IcydmTnVQdD0g6Zd8lP2kvUbqBUcOQcLDnWNJDwDGnr0hupRh4naBl929wiS1ZYMCu823t9fyCh5SMoRUGFBXc43HFaU-jk07nGIlV3-R7VIabqt/s1600/snowkill.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="565" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EUjl3hoUPQov8mT8kWe8Fv-n42R8IcydmTnVQdD0g6Zd8lP2kvUbqBUcOQcLDnWNJDwDGnr0hupRh4naBl929wiS1ZYMCu823t9fyCh5SMoRUGFBXc43HFaU-jk07nGIlV3-R7VIabqt/s640/snowkill.PNG" width="420" /></a></div>
<br />John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-65245159746485194812019-01-13T22:28:00.004-05:002019-01-13T23:26:47.149-05:00You need to keep busy ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcniXLaioX9jN4MJwyBOMbnOLzpDHehswfQOZrQfmXcNXifb8kP3ZF3RBOPeKaDaVjC8E5Ev1mh1s0nrQ1u45o47tPShGVevTalzajB4UCg1KEyRRg-OVhHm5UyCFTut-Hu-kKN151KlfK/s1600/govt+closed+due+to+snow.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="736" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcniXLaioX9jN4MJwyBOMbnOLzpDHehswfQOZrQfmXcNXifb8kP3ZF3RBOPeKaDaVjC8E5Ev1mh1s0nrQ1u45o47tPShGVevTalzajB4UCg1KEyRRg-OVhHm5UyCFTut-Hu-kKN151KlfK/s400/govt+closed+due+to+snow.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-38114858271104011372019-01-13T21:48:00.000-05:002019-01-13T21:57:00.020-05:00It snowed. *All* of DC is now shut down.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYO5yG_RTtFqfdEfybgubWWXpnZDQE0NECaxCc_AnksisHwANAK8geEphKr0Ri40J04tE0058IzdpshvgB4OG-5JYgrcdTIIFn4JcvIGtYSNOn2XcUT9w8-6hRRiCT1bmghY7JaTWTfhP/s1600/20190113_204422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYO5yG_RTtFqfdEfybgubWWXpnZDQE0NECaxCc_AnksisHwANAK8geEphKr0Ri40J04tE0058IzdpshvgB4OG-5JYgrcdTIIFn4JcvIGtYSNOn2XcUT9w8-6hRRiCT1bmghY7JaTWTfhP/s400/20190113_204422.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between 12 & 13 January 2019, my neighborhood <br />
received somewhere from 1 to 11.5 inches of snow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The weatherguessers 'called it.'<br />
<br />
The prediction was that, somewhere over 2 or 3 days, there would be an accumulation of 2-10 inches of snow ... we got about 6'ish, from what I can tell. But I'm not really sure what to go by; should I listen to <a href="https://wtop.com/listen-live/" target="_blank">WTOP radio</a>, watch <a href="https://wjla.com/" target="_blank">TV weather news</a>, look at my <a href="https://www.weatherbug.com/" target="_blank">Weatherbug app</a> on my cellphone, <a href="https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-get-better-weather-forecasts-on-your-alexa-speaker/" target="_blank">ask Alexa</a> (!) or just go stick a ruler into the snow?<br />
<br />
Now everyone who works for one of the government departments still being paid who had been expecting to be <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USOPM/?epa=SEARCH_BOX" target="_blank">waiting for 4am to find out from The Office of Personnel Management (OPM)</a> if they're expected to show up for work late on Monday or at all (that's when OPM historically makes these decisions), have been advised: stay home.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hytVFCQeN9cr3y6vd8HExGuAfgzvyqC4YI65EpIhpSLIx1Rx0Itm3uex4SxMw6wX2Ftc_XgZypAARJ909IfY7WunqplSfRL9CIp8ev-7G1ILQCUzMJS2HzAkjg8z-rLmfZYnmQm1N6NO/s1600/snow+closed.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="487" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hytVFCQeN9cr3y6vd8HExGuAfgzvyqC4YI65EpIhpSLIx1Rx0Itm3uex4SxMw6wX2Ftc_XgZypAARJ909IfY7WunqplSfRL9CIp8ev-7G1ILQCUzMJS2HzAkjg8z-rLmfZYnmQm1N6NO/s400/snow+closed.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
As Mr. Bill Murray would say: "It just doesn't matter" for me. Sick people who may have pneumonia should say home regardless of whether or not the government is shut down due to weather or a wall.<br />
<br />
Peace out.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
JM(M)</div>
John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-3944324509109359782019-01-12T11:34:00.000-05:002019-01-14T19:55:57.900-05:00"Snow or no snow," that is the question.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC_3P88978x2RK5T6oR3_s4Do_xM6yfd_LMz8dh-uqXVbv5W7t-a8cB_aq5mglG0lyTUV-iEepfcznnnEWl3MD5At4u9d9qrGDSfPqHcXTOTjl6JrfL5B5-DngMgVwB0sR7Xltq9FiLm9/s1600/weathergirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="610" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC_3P88978x2RK5T6oR3_s4Do_xM6yfd_LMz8dh-uqXVbv5W7t-a8cB_aq5mglG0lyTUV-iEepfcznnnEWl3MD5At4u9d9qrGDSfPqHcXTOTjl6JrfL5B5-DngMgVwB0sR7Xltq9FiLm9/s400/weathergirl.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I predict this weathergirl is 100% with regard to her weather-related commentary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To be fair, I acknowledge that Mother Nature is difficult to predict. Sometimes you get what was promised. Sometimes you get what was expected. And sometimes you get clocked with a roundhouse kick to the side of the head that you didn't see coming.<br />
<br />
With that said, the weather people seem pretty sure of themselves this time. Their inches and probability percentages differ slightly but, they all seem to be pretty sure it's going to snow.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHOhDWG2nixIekyaYjfYsQeWH-XzbRczsROMjQMku39e5QN9mBCh8wEgTiScO2gMjIYF-BeqxEKyH6l_1d7HDVB2pDeTrq9PoOk2ywVLLZmLdKsIRJfjcAclqcrNjnyX7JU2JjsEvMNZZ/s1600/snow+prediction+2019.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="705" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHOhDWG2nixIekyaYjfYsQeWH-XzbRczsROMjQMku39e5QN9mBCh8wEgTiScO2gMjIYF-BeqxEKyH6l_1d7HDVB2pDeTrq9PoOk2ywVLLZmLdKsIRJfjcAclqcrNjnyX7JU2JjsEvMNZZ/s400/snow+prediction+2019.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The National Weather Service (NWS) prediction (above) calls for 4-6" in the DC area, implying a 100% chance of snow, but not sure of the accumulation (understandable). They also put expiration dates on their predictions, so they can change them without looking more unreliable than they are.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Weatherbug app (below), which uses data from users, says the probability of snow is "near 100%," why not just go there? C'mon, Weatherbug! "You can doooeeeet!" At least they have the confidence to throw out probability percentages like the big guys.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiYXGpAHOddaV3vboPYXCO86Sj5cY8bbp1TZ3WCwsjLwJlTP7NMK9ROrtlA-i3Vmh8z1e-VzUM4MeGs2pdKhFKHTwny6zEKs-uYlBdMyit0943MCzLk4hj4_ZkXE01lco7ov8_T_o-Fo5/s1600/snow+prediction+2019+pt+III.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="444" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiYXGpAHOddaV3vboPYXCO86Sj5cY8bbp1TZ3WCwsjLwJlTP7NMK9ROrtlA-i3Vmh8z1e-VzUM4MeGs2pdKhFKHTwny6zEKs-uYlBdMyit0943MCzLk4hj4_ZkXE01lco7ov8_T_o-Fo5/s320/snow+prediction+2019+pt+III.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of note, however, The NWS also thinks there's only a 50% chance of snow today, but 100% on Sunday -- and they think it will also be snowing on Monday (20%).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-tyGWBiLxg9IkhuRUxc6hMjc_IdlcKRPBSw_CNGsQA7FdbnkneyfFku7Cq7NicfSeiS_Uj7TZohM20Cf0MC464NgLF1fMVBXRmpi_Uf6oelmbpfRIgbG2wLUBT8bfA2cBaloKAa6ZAQ9/s1600/snow+prediction+2019+pt+II.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="772" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-tyGWBiLxg9IkhuRUxc6hMjc_IdlcKRPBSw_CNGsQA7FdbnkneyfFku7Cq7NicfSeiS_Uj7TZohM20Cf0MC464NgLF1fMVBXRmpi_Uf6oelmbpfRIgbG2wLUBT8bfA2cBaloKAa6ZAQ9/s400/snow+prediction+2019+pt+II.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I'll be surprised if they're accurate, and won't pick on them anymore. But, my experience is that, when they go all out and warn people more than 1 or 2 days ahead of when they think it will be snowing, they're wrong. Conversely, when they *don't* warn you of anything serious: you get buried.</div>
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I'm still sick since last Tuesday, so at least this will give me something to think about other than Netflix while I drain my body of it's 4-6 inches of snot with a 50% chance of it letting up by Sunday.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">UPDATES:</span></b></div>
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<li>Saturday, 1300 - NWS sends an SMS alert that it will start snowing in 110 minutes! Accumulation also increased to 5-10 inches. </li>
<li>Sunday, 1630 - A few flakes are floating around Crystal City in Arlington, VA. NSTR.</li>
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<li>Sunday, 2045 - Somewhere between 0" and 11" accumulation. DC Gov't offices are closed.</li>
<li>Monday AM:</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhWY7gDI2mmkYzfL5pFAj-xbBmnT9rCQ6Qp3rfSKpGDuNViPLOMFjQ_u0IeHdPgf0U1kc7AdDE2MOrww687DYu64h5It1x4k0ztuLRU4XgU6vepOmpApWYSMIo8XkuoYhAGbUGWVXHoax/s1600/CrystalCityAccumulation.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhWY7gDI2mmkYzfL5pFAj-xbBmnT9rCQ6Qp3rfSKpGDuNViPLOMFjQ_u0IeHdPgf0U1kc7AdDE2MOrww687DYu64h5It1x4k0ztuLRU4XgU6vepOmpApWYSMIo8XkuoYhAGbUGWVXHoax/s400/CrystalCityAccumulation.PNG" width="371" /></a></div>
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JM(M)</div>
<br />John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084213533950938740.post-81437973807123659522019-01-11T02:02:00.002-05:002019-01-11T04:42:27.602-05:002nd day back at work after 2 sick days ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqVYUPJz1W19_48mo8BDHXdgrUlwD2s_v0rUbjOe_rV5LBIDGiN9Kz5DQSDVhfEzpSU0G0e5RirUPhUcYJZB2I38NzIaXir2UxvIbZQp_HgbnsMZU3LOs2tC2phDEXGemh062CrTdeJIc/s1600/METRO+CROWD.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="865" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqVYUPJz1W19_48mo8BDHXdgrUlwD2s_v0rUbjOe_rV5LBIDGiN9Kz5DQSDVhfEzpSU0G0e5RirUPhUcYJZB2I38NzIaXir2UxvIbZQp_HgbnsMZU3LOs2tC2phDEXGemh062CrTdeJIc/s400/METRO+CROWD.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Navy Yard Metro Station is probably not the most germ-free of places.</td></tr>
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0159<br />
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... the opening scene from 'Apocalypse Now' comes to mind.</div>
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I probably should have canx'ed these last 2 days and stayed home in bed. I got some work done yesterday that needed doin' but still -- the needs of the few may have outweighed the needs of the many despite Mr. Roddenberry's words from so long ago. The current job, like those of so many others, is one of those deals where, the longer I'm not there, the suckier it is when I go back. So any vacation taken is only pleasant for half of its total length because halfway in: you're wrapping it up. </div>
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So I went back.</div>
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Plus, it would have been a really crappy thing to do to take whatever infectious germies I had in to work and possibly bring down the other two folks I labor with ... they're nice people and don't deserve it. Neither of them read this blog, so I can say nice things about them and they'll never know.</div>
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As of yesterday morning, the weather people (they call them 'The Capitol Weather Gang' here) are already warning everyone who still pays attention to them of some possible snow-action over the weekend -- or maybe not. Maybe a Snowpocalypse -- or maybe not. I don't think it's ever been called accurately here for the past 2.5'ish years we've been here.</div>
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And, whether we are treated to a big snowstorm this weekend or not: it's Friday. The weekend is here. Since we arrived here in September of 2016, this has taken on the significance it once had like in the 1981 song. While I am fortunate to now work a schedule that involves 'every other Friday off,' it's interesting to me to remember how I used to work a 10+ hours/day, 7-day week pretty much all year and *like* it. I am lucky to have enjoyed a job like that for as long as I did. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zL8G5pBZ5CI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zL8G5pBZ5CI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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"Everybody's workin' for the weekend." - Loverboy</div>
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JM(M)</div>
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John Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080935184158909486noreply@blogger.com2