Elliott C. Back: Internet & Technology

So my Dlink DI-514 wireless router is being weird. It dies randomly. I have two theories about this problem: overheating or power spikes.

So, I finally got internet, and I got it throught Speakeasy. Not only do they install to any major telephone anywhere in the us, ship you a modem you get free after $99 rebate, offer no installation charge and the first two months at $19.99, have hardcore gamer and hosting packages, but they also have absolutely great customer service.

When my installation didn’t work the night I got the service, I made two calls, both of which were answered and resolved in minutes. I was able to find out first that the service was scheduled to activate by 7 PM–in 20 minutes. When at 7:05 it still didn’t work, I called again. The technician told me that QWest had failed to install the loop, and I emailed my installation co-ordinator, Todd Voelker, the next day from work. By the time I got home, the issue was completely resolved.

That’s what I call good service.

There are always some people that think I’m a really bad man for the comments that some other people leave on this site. Take Walter Valente, for example, who received a comment notification on a tomb raider post:

You fucking sick and sad arsehole bastard get a fucking life. She’s only a cartoon character this was my 12 year old sons comment on the sight supposed to be innocent fun I’m going to report you to the manager of the site. WANKER!!!!!

I admit that the comment in question is offensive and doesn’t seem to make much sense, but then again, I didn’t make it, so don’t email me–twice. Use the unsubscribe link in your email, folks.

Update:

Nina Hartley (?) writes me again:

If you can not see what was wrong with your disgusting email then you have a problem. I don’t believe you are the site manager for a second and have already removed my sons name from the site as I wouldn’t want him exposed to such vulgarity. I do not wish any further contact from you and have stored the email from yourself as proof of its obscene contents.

It’s obvious what she got in her email, since the comment is sitting there in plain site. And, I really do own this site. In spite of my misgivings about her ability to … think … , I gave her a nice reply:

The notification email is not from me, but rather from my site. When a user leaves a comment on the older version of the blog, he is automatically subscribed to the conversation. Since [your son] left a comment, my blog automatically emails him all future comments, unless he opts out. The process is entirely automatic–I have no control over the content. To impose filtering both violates my notion of free speech, and takes up my valuable professional time.