It’s nice if you print out the Read Me document, but that’s not necessary.

I would have told you to do this half a year ago, but the Snow Leopard version of Applejack just became available.

AppleJack for Snow Leopard is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

Keeping in touch with Facebook

10. I moved from America to Israel in 2004, leaving behind my entire family and almost every friend I’d ever known. Though I didn’t get a Facebook account until 2005, I’ve been using it daily for the past five years to stay in touch with friends and relatives. Facebook makes it extremely inexpensive and highly efficient to get out important news about myself and to find out important news about other people with whom I never was very close. At the same time, it has never replaced traditional means of communication like telephone calls; nor should it.

Business networking with Facebook

9. LinkedIn is there and it does a fine job, but work is only one part of my life and there’s no chance for a prospective employer or client to get to know me by my LinkedIn page. I add my coworkers as Facebook friends and I’ll do the same for my clients. If they don’t accept me, I don’t mind at all, but I think they’ll want to get a better understanding of who I am and what I like, to the extent that information on Facebook supplements my real personality.

Photo sharing on Facebook

8. I understand that Facebook is now the world’s biggest photo-sharing site. There are others, like Flickr and Picasa, that have lots of features and are more professional, and more serious solutions like installing Gallery on your own domain. But for ease of tagging, getting photos to lots and lots of people – but not to random strangers – and sheer simplicity, sharing photos with Facebook makes perfect sense.

Connecting with new friends on Facebook

7. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been out and met someone or a few people, but only gotten first names. In the old days, meeting someone and speaking for a few minutes meant that I’d either have to ask for a telephone number to continue the conversation, with might seem a little too forward (and I don’t enjoy talking on the telephone very much) or attempting to follow up through a friend-of-a-friend, which could be cumbersome (I’ve never been comfortable meeting someone and then asking for an email address). It’s now extremely handy to use Facebook to connect with a new contact, even given just a first name and a mutual friend. This might be to continue a discussion about some interesting issue, to finish tagging a photo, to pass along information about a job or an apartment or just to stay in touch in the future. It’s clean, it’s easy and it works.

Using Facebook ads

6. Recently, while looking for an apartment in Tel Aviv, I used Facebook ads to get the word out and drive people to read my message that I was willing to pay a NIS 3500 finder’s fee for information leading to me renting an apartment. A very large percentage of the site’s traffic was generated by these Facebook ads, leading to several actionable tips. My somewhat creative use of Facebook ads was profiled in an article in TheMarker, the business section of Haaretz, but in fact I believe that I was using Facebook’s advertising platform in exactly the way it was designed and for exactly its purpose. Gone are the days when ad campaigns cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars just to plan and start. I set $10 daily limits for my ads and didn’t have any knowledge of the system beyond what’s available in Facebook’s own FAQs. It’s so easy to use Facebook ads, I could almost train my dog to use them.

Facebook’s privacy settings

5. Complaints about how Facebook sets up its privacy settings are a dime a dozen, but I challenge anyone to come up with another comparable web service that gives its users more powerful, granular control over their information than Facebook does. You can choose exactly who gets to see every little thing you do on Facebook or set global settings and just stick with them. True, they change their privacy options all the time and true, it gets pretty confusing, but it’s getting confusing because it’s getting more detailed and more complex, which is a good thing. And the bottom line is that no information is available about you that you don’t put on Facebook in the first place: if you want to have a profile with just your first name, last initial and favorite television shows, you can do that. This isn’t to say that privacy isn’t a big concern. It is, but it’s also crazy to complain that Facebook is spreading your information every which way if you don’t use Facebook’s own options to control who sees your information.

Remembering people’s details with Facebook

4. Whenever someone I know travels, I always ask for a postcard to add to my collection. “But what’s your address?” they always ask. And I always say: “It’s on my Facebook page.” When I meet someone who asks for my phone number, I could recite the ten digits or write them down, but it’s a hell of a lot easier just to give my Facebook username – which, conveniently, is the same as my first name. When someone wants to know my birthday to wish me a happy birthday – it’s there, and it even reminds my friends and family on Facebook when my birthday is approaching. I have a Birthdays calendar in iCal too, so I can see when important birthdays are coming… but there are hundreds more birthdays in my Facebook account.

Everyone is on Facebook

3. As often happens, Farhad Manjoo said it best: “There is no longer any good reason to avoid Facebook… it is now so widely trafficked that it’s fast becoming a routine aid to social interaction, like e-mail and antiperspirant [and mobile phones]… Facebook is now at that same point – whether or not you intend it, you’re saying something by staying away.” What does it say to me when I meet someone who doesn’t have Facebook? Something like: I don’t want to stay in touch with you. Or perhaps: Please leave me alone. Or even: Community is not important to me. These are perfectly valid sentiments, but if you do want to stay in touch, if you don’t want to be left alone, if community does matter to you, then you’ll find a way to use the tool that’s expected of you.

Facebook gets better all the time

2. I’m actually ambivalent about Facebook’s progress and I include this one even though, while I think it’s true that Facebook does get better all the time, it also gets worse. I miss the days when Facebook was mainly about networks (and then groups) and I think becoming a “fan” of a “page” is lame, which is why I’ve never done it. I think most Facebook applications like the Farmville thing and the Mafia Wars thing are complete crap, which is why I’ve never used them (and why I’ve blocked them from spamming me). At the same time, Facebook’s integration with the wider web is very cool and opens up a lot of interesting possibilities – who knows, maybe one day Facebook will be the next Google, the first stop for people who want to find something on the internet. And where else on the internet do people join a site with their real names (first and last) and real pictures, one account per person? Facebook could be the long sought source for online micropayments, one-click identity verification without credit cards, etc, etc.

It’s a pain in the ass to quit Facebook

1. This is in response to Dan Yoder’s point three: “Facebook makes it incredibly difficult to truly delete your account.” It seems circular to me that it’s hard to close your Facebook account would be an argument for why you should close your Facebook account, but I understand that many people see it that way. Just ask yourself: is it really worth it? Facebook is entertaining, useful, efficient, free, generally a good idea to use and possibly will be even more essential in the future. If you don’t like making your information public, limit the amount of information you share. You don’t even have to give a real last name to use Facebook; you don’t have to use your normal email address; you don’t have to join your company’s network or accept your boss’s friend request. Is it really worth canceling your account for the vaguest and lamest reasons? Nope. Do yourself and everyone around you a favor and keep the damn account open.

10 Reasons NOT to Delete Your Facebook Account is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

Update: I understand that the UVA Mini Bay Game has been taken down due to a trademark or copyright issue, though I can’t see how it would have been a problem since it was purely educational. Anyway, I can assure you that it was fun while it lasted!

Do you like models? is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

2010-01-26 08:33:22
natges: I’ve arrived home. It sure would have been nice if I’d been
informed of the scaffolding and construction on my building.

2010-01-26 08:05:49
natges: Cab driver is listening to radio in Russian. All I want to hear is
Hebrew!

2010-01-26 08:00:47
natges: I made it through Customs with no trouble and I’m in a NIS 135 taxi
to Tel Aviv.

2010-01-26 07:25:10
natges: I’m on the ground in Israel!

2010-01-25 20:50:55
natges: @huangm777 they just paged a “passenger Mike Huang” on my flight.
Visiting Israel?

2010-01-25 20:30:05
natges: Aside from them, the flight is not close to full. Awesome!

2010-01-25 20:29:02
natges: There’s a Xtian tour group on my plane. I love their enthusiasm!

2010-01-25 20:20:07
natges: Goodbye America! I won’t take off for a while, but I’m done with
you for now.

2010-01-25 20:18:53
natges: I’m on the plane – Continental CO84. Who wants to pick me up at the
airport?

2010-01-25 17:22:12
natges: There’s nothing like some awful airport food to make me crave
airplane food.

2010-01-25 17:20:54
natges: @elliotreed no direct flights from any DC airport to Israel; I like
Continental’s 777s.

2010-01-25 16:36:08
natges: Just kidding. Atlanta to Newark is cancelled. Newark to Israel is
on time. It’s all one flight number.

2010-01-25 16:21:10
natges: The board says my flight is cancelled. http://twitpic.com/zprtl

But the people say it’s on time.

2010-01-25 16:07:29
natges: It’s outrageous that both Reagan and Liberty have Dunkin’ Donuts
instead of Krispy Kreme.

2010-01-25 15:59:58
natges: Hurry up and wait! Now I have to find a way to burn some time.

2010-01-25 15:53:13
natges: Letting me transfer from domestic to international terminals with
my shoes on is about the most I can ask from an American airport.

2010-01-25 15:26:07
natges: @fadetheory maybe I should look into getting a child…

2010-01-25 15:25:20
natges: I’m on the ground at Liberty. That’s the airport formerly known as
Newark, for those who don’t know.

2010-01-25 13:41:33
natges: Thank you @fadetheory!

2010-01-25 13:40:54
natges: My flight to Liberty is delayed due to an electrical problem on
board. I don’t like the sound of that.

2010-01-25 13:09:59
natges: I’m now waiting at Reagan to board a plane to Liberty.

2010-01-25 13:08:14
natges: I wasn’t spared the normal indignities of American airport
security.

2010-01-25 13:07:09
natges: I did some hardcore luggage adjusting at check-in and each bag was
exactly 50 pounds.

2010-01-25 11:53:34
natges: I think all the people missing from the Metro last night are on
the Beltway this morning.

2010-01-25 06:18:31
natges: Did Infinite Jest REALLY have to be that long? I won’t know for a
while, because it’s getting left behind. Sorry DFW.

2010-01-25 06:17:41
natges: Preliminary weigh-in results: first bag is six pounds overweight,
second bag is half a pound overweight. Time to toss some books.

2010-01-25 06:06:55
natges: Natan is packing to go home.: is packing to go home.
http://bit.ly/8MCU9R (via the Facebook)

2010-01-25 05:52:37
natges: Good thing my parents have Code Red!

2010-01-25 05:52:21
natges: That’s an hour earlier than I’d anticipated. It’s now almost 1 am
and I still have a lot of packing and arranging to get done.

2010-01-25 05:51:57
natges: Continental called to let us know that my flight to Newark is
cancelled. I got on an earlier flight. I’m leaving the house at 6:30 am.

2010-01-25 04:05:13
natges: Alex B. and Craig live in a building called The Gatsby.

2010-01-25 02:42:40
natges: I’m at Open City cafe with Katy and Craig!

2010-01-25 01:19:31
natges: The Metro is almost empty at 8 pm on a Sunday.

2010-01-24 23:12:45
natges: Last supper: Red, Hot & Blue.

2010-01-24 23:11:55
natges: I am mostly packed.

2010-01-24 22:33:49
natges: @xgess the bathroom is free, so you can take a bath if you want
now. Then a shower. Then you’ll be clean.

2010-01-24 22:32:44
natges: So sorry I missed my cousins Cindy, Brian, Stevie & Avery on this
trip, and friends Kenny & Yvonne. Next year – or sooner?

2010-01-24 22:32:08
natges: My parents had a wonderful gathering so I could see a lot of
people. It was so terrific to see everyone and I expect visitors in Israel!

2010-01-24 19:08:20
natges: Is it just me or are there a lot of vets / animal hospitals in
Montgomery County?

2010-01-24 18:18:11
natges: Last supermarket run is underway.

2010-01-24 17:31:02
natges: Clean!

2010-01-24 17:30:28
natges: @MemphisSeth they killed off some attractive looking females in
season two – what about them?

2010-01-24 17:29:28
natges: @vboykis 21 emails left is not bad for any day.

2010-01-24 17:18:47
natges: ps. Now I’m showering so I can actually get clean.

2010-01-23 22:44:35
natges: It’s been a very, very, very long time since I went to a
conservative synagogue on shabbat. This morning’s experience was quite
church-like.

2010-01-23 22:43:37
natges: @MemphisSeth her character is the worst on the whole show.

2010-01-23 17:40:33
natges: My brother and I are on the way to Chipotle for visit #4.

2010-01-23 17:38:47
natges: Of all the things I don’t have in my life, the one I miss the least
is radio.

2010-01-23 14:30:10
natges: I’m going to a bat mitzvah. This is the first time I’m wearing a
suit and tie since 2005.

2010-01-23 13:13:22
natges: I am almost done with my pre- season six LOST rewatch!

2010-01-23 11:37:46
natges: @simonepress great interview with Snooki. I can not wait to watch
the rest of the season.

2010-01-23 01:49:55
natges: The Patagonia Critical Mass messenger-style bag I ordered is, alas,
too big for me. I think I’ll have to ask my parents to return it.

2010-01-23 01:49:06
natges: @lettersapp Many congratulations on beginning the sorely needed
project. And where/how can I volunteer to help???

2010-01-23 00:04:40
natges: The best thing about Tripper Bus, by the way, is that I don’t have
to set foot in The District.

2010-01-22 23:15:02
natges: We made great time on the bus (considerig rush hour) and now I’m on
the Metro back to my parents’.

2010-01-22 22:59:18
natges: The Tripper Bus driver kept calling Bethesda “Bethesla.”

2010-01-22 19:29:06
natges: Natan is on his way back to Maryland.: is on his way back to
Maryland. http://bit.ly/5zavQr (via the Facebook)

2010-01-22 19:08:22
natges: We have another impeccably polite Tripper driver and mostly empty
bus – I did have a bit of a scare when my outlet didn’t work at first…

2010-01-22 19:07:39
natges: Thanks for the hospitality: Leeor and Marie, Karen and Akilesh,
Adam and John.

2010-01-22 19:07:08
natges: I’m on the Tripper Bus back to Maryland. This was an unbelievably
awesome trip to New York, perfect in almost EVERY way.

2010-01-22 16:57:58
natges: Last meal in New York = first time trying Korean. Sorry Sharav!

2010-01-22 16:57:18
natges: There are more password protected networks every year in New York.
Fortunately I can usually find one called linksys.

2010-01-22 16:56:18
natges: RT @fmanjoo: That’s it, I’m not voting anymore. What’s the point? I
should really get into sports or something.

2010-01-22 16:09:36
natges: Places I regret that I’ll not have visited on this trip: Shake
Shack, Di Fara’s.

2010-01-22 16:07:46
natges: Most ridiculous flyer on the board at Think Coffee: Holistic Pet
Healer.

2010-01-22 16:06:06
natges: Seriously, Think Coffee should just install some Israeli shaped
electrical outlets for all their Israeli customers.

2010-01-22 15:57:45
natges: I haven’t heard so much Hebrew on this trip to New York‚Ķ but
Israelis seem to have taken over Think Coffee on Bleecker.

2010-01-22 15:56:13
natges: Imagine THIS sign on a cash register in Israel:

http://twitpic.com/z7rvb

2010-01-22 15:02:59
natges: Washington Mews: my old favorite street. http://twitpic.com/z7kke

2010-01-22 15:01:08
natges: Good morning New York! Last day here. Just had another awesome
Bagel Bob’s bagel with @occisraeli.

2010-01-22 06:23:23
natges: I’m sleeping in Manhattan tonight.

2010-01-22 02:36:31
natges: Food Bazaar is probably the second best supermarket I’ve ever seen.
After Fairway.

2010-01-22 02:29:05
natges: Karen: Grand Concourse used to be a really nice neighborhood. Me:
And then you moved here?

2010-01-22 02:16:16
natges: Karen asks: What are you going to tweet next?

2010-01-22 02:14:40
natges: Pepe’s of Yonkers is almost as good as the original Pepe’s.

2010-01-22 00:48:55
natges: You know what the plural of “anecdote” is? DATA! (a joke by Bernard
Tenenbaum, told by Karen)

2010-01-22 00:30:51
natges: One word: Pepe’s. Of Yonkers. http://twitpic.com/z4u1x

2010-01-21 04:06:32
natges: Karen talking about her grandmother Ruth: http://twitpic.com/z0r0s

2010-01-21 04:04:18
natges: Karen’s roommate Akilesh: http://twitpic.com/z0qn0

2010-01-21 04:02:51
natges: Karen has a coop in the Bronx. It’s pretty fancy!

2010-01-21 02:18:58
natges: Dinner: Corner Bistro with John, Adam, Leeor and Karen!

2010-01-21 01:03:05
natges: I’m waiting in line at Corner Bistro. How long have I waited for
this?

2010-01-21 00:58:45
natges: I saw a Kindle on the subway (first time) and now I know why apple
is going to release a tablet device.

2010-01-21 22:49:29
natges: Natanel, two and a half years: http://twitpic.com/z4djt

2010-01-21 22:31:04
natges: @3zrahal3v1 is showing me pictures and videos from his recent
vacation. Wow. Wow.

2010-01-21 21:11:17
natges: Another new experience for me: the Willis Avenue Bridge.

2010-01-21 21:07:53
natges: @simonepress Shame on Harlem! Make your Popeye’s friendly like
Bushwick’s.

2010-01-21 21:06:15
natges: RT @xgess: @natges tell ezra i say hello @3zrahal3v1

2010-01-21 21:04:46
natges: WELCOME TO THE TWITTER @xgess!!!!

2010-01-21 21:03:41
natges: Wait a minute. They renamed Triboro Bridge after some dude who’s
been dead more than 40 years?

2010-01-21 20:39:36
natges: I am in Ezra’s sister’s pimped out Volvo! She’s in Israel – Ezra is
driving.

2010-01-21 19:56:40
natges: Popeye’s of Harlem is encased in bullet-proof plastic. In Bushwick
they are much more welcoming.

2010-01-21 19:55:11
natges: @phriedman Nice!!! I have been a devoted Corner Bistro fan for a
really long time!

2010-01-21 19:53:59
natges: Going from Yankee Stadium to Bushwick today was the first time I
EVER went from outer borough to outer borough without going above ground.

2010-01-21 19:52:03
natges: I don’t know why that Kindle thing got tweeted again. It wasn’t me!

2010-01-21 19:41:48
natges: Just had Popeyes with Randy in “Bushwick”!!!!!!!

2010-01-21 19:40:46
natges: I saw a Kindle on the subway (first time) and now I know why apple
is going to release a tablet device.

2010-01-20 05:55:46
natges: @occisraeli and I just spent 20 minutes laughing at
http://bit.ly/8xYv0X. Check it out!

2010-01-20 02:10:42
natges: Dan’s phone can’t decide what it wants to be.

http://twitpic.com/yvhtx

2010-01-20 02:03:15
natges: Dinner at Lombardi’s was phenomenal! Best pizza in the five
boroughs!

2010-01-20 01:17:23
natges: One Pomerantz and one Mendelsohn for dinner!

http://twitpic.com/yv9r7

2010-01-20 21:10:59
natges: Natan is having a blast in New York!!!!!!!! 240-264-7264.: is
having a blast in New York!!!!!!!!… http://bit.ly/4yEJZS (via the
Facebook)

2010-01-20 18:53:05
natges: The menu of the Indian restaurant where I ate lunch proclaimed that
the managment reserved the right to enforce certain standards of decency

2010-01-20 16:43:49
natges: The Washington Square fountain is now centered with the arch and
Fifth Ave. And it’s renamed after Tisch. Was that REALLY necessary?

2010-01-20 16:36:59
natges: NYU students have definitely gotten dumber since I left (nothing to
do with me – I’m just saying‚Ķ).

2010-01-20 16:35:49
natges: I can’t wait until the construction is done in Washington Square.
And I’m here in spring, so I can see Garibaldi for more than a minute.

2010-01-20 16:29:22
natges: Note to groceries: to attract a higher class clientele, hang wicker
baskets from your ceilings.

2010-01-20 16:26:26
natges: It is a BEAUTIFUL day in New York today, by the way. I wouldn’t
mind if it were a little warmer, though.

2010-01-20 16:25:07
natges: I think I’m using more chapstick on this trip to New York than in
any other time period of comparable lengh ever.

2010-01-20 14:43:57
natges: … and I’m now in Apple of Midtown where I’m planning out my day.

2010-01-20 14:43:32
natges: I had a bagel this morning from Bagel Hole in Park Slope. It was a
little on the chewy side for my taste, but still excellent.

2010-01-19 23:41:36
natges: @phriedman of course Code Red is my favorite. It’s a shirley temple
in a can.

2010-01-19 23:38:31
natges: Dessert before dinner (and lunch): chocolate truffle cake at
Ferrara! http://twitpic.com/yutkf

2010-01-19 22:55:02
natges: On that note, returning the overpriced one I bought from Apple
could not have been easier.

2010-01-19 22:53:58
natges: I love you Apple, but your $29 mini display port to DVI adapter is
EXACTLY the same as Tekserve’s $20 model. Explain that.

2010-01-19 22:39:39
natges: Barbershop quartet in the subway. They weren’t bad, but who wants
to hear a barbershop quartet?

2010-01-19 22:26:12
natges: I just spent WAY too much time in Apple of soho. Going to Tekserve
now will not make up for it.

2010-01-19 19:35:30
natges: It looked like rain was coming, so I ducked in the Apple Store of
SoHo. To shop. Really.

2010-01-19 19:13:19
natges: There are few things in life I love to do more than THE Dew. Even
at $1.75 for 20 oz.

2010-01-19 19:00:12
natges: @simonepress America is a very interesting place.

2010-01-19 18:58:38
natges: On my first day in New York more than 10 years ago, I sat and
watched the chess players in Washington Square. And it’s still cool.

2010-01-19 18:25:34
natges: Downtown, there are “pedestrian safety” officers holding a chain
across the street to block us from crossing while cars go by.

2010-01-19 18:17:36
natges: I’m still looking for an inexpensive mini display port to DVI
adapter.

2010-01-19 18:17:03
natges: I think I just went to about ten stores in a row, all called J&R;.

2010-01-19 18:04:07
natges: $7?!? You got ripped off, @simonepress.

2010-01-19 17:44:55
natges: Fact: Wearing a keffiyeh in New York causes people to address me
first in French, then in Arabic.

2010-01-19 17:23:36
natges: Here’s where I tried to take cover immediately after the World
Trade Center fell: http://twitpic.com/yt9de

2010-01-19 05:09:15
natges: @elliotreed Celcius is fake. Why can’t everyone just accept that
the English imperial system is the true system of weights and measures?

2010-01-19 03:46:09
natges: @simonepress those are some nice eyebrows you have, but threading
still sounds frightening. What’s the matter with tweezing?

2010-01-19 03:05:33
natges: @occisraeli and Mrs occisraeli have an awesome apartment with a
great view of the city!

2010-01-19 02:53:40
natges: Away from the subway station, this neighborhood is so cute and
quaint. It’s just as I expected Brooklyn to be.

2010-01-19 02:31:43
natges: First impression of Park Slope: it’s so hip and trendy! Almost like
NYC!

2010-01-19 02:10:26
natges: Grimaldi’s made a very fine pie. Very fine.

2010-01-19 00:57:12
natges: http://twitpic.com/yq9ha
Oven at Grimaldi’s.

2010-01-19 00:53:07
natges: http://twitpic.com/yq8y4
Grimaldi’s chef.

2010-01-19 00:45:07
natges: We are seated.

2010-01-19 00:34:17
natges: Hey Israelis! The temperature in Brooklyn is 7 in fake degrees.

2010-01-19 00:21:51
natges: Brooklyn isn’t so bad.

2010-01-19 00:16:22
natges: @occisraeli and I are standing in line at Grimaldi’s!

2010-01-18 23:45:20
natges: @occisraeli in Aroma just observed that the lampshades have Israeli
product designs.

2010-01-18 22:19:22
natges: I’m here with Geoff and he’s great.

2010-01-18 22:18:54
natges: Aroma of SoHo! It’s not really that Israeli, though.

2010-01-18 04:00:13
natges: ps. My brother was TREMENDOUSLY helpful in my monitor purchase over
the past week. He’s joining the twitter soon, so I’ll thank him again…

2010-01-18 22:01:57
natges: Washington Square!

2010-01-18 03:59:24
natges: I’m packing for New York now! I think I’ll bring warm sweaters but
only a light rain jacket.

2010-01-18 21:58:15
natges: My first home in New York: http://twitpic.com/ypeva

2010-01-18 03:53:14
natges: Thanks @elliotreed! It really shouldn’t be a problem since it’s a
single monitor that’s for personal use, not resale. But you never know…

2010-01-18 21:42:24
natges: The Flatiron Building is still one of my top few favorite buildings
in the world.

2010-01-18 02:05:58
natges: Big Love is on! I’m watching with @wadijoh on the huge screen.

2010-01-18 21:41:47
natges: @wadijoh, do you need a door?

http://twitpic.com/ypbww

http://twitpic.com/ypc15

2010-01-18 02:04:20
natges: Announcement: I will be in New York tomorrow (Monday) through
Friday. If I know you, get in touch and we’ll meet up!

2010-01-18 21:37:02
natges: Would you pay $6 for something called “eyebrow threading”? Don’t
think I would, either.

2010-01-18 02:02:48
natges: Dinner tonight was chicken and pasta again, like when I was a kid.

2010-01-17 03:12:30
natges: My parents and grandmother are watching SVU. I wonder what this
episode’s sermon will be‚Ķ

2010-01-17 01:58:19
natges: @elliotreed I’m content with the Disney cartoon Robin Hood where
he’s a fox and Little John is a bear.

2010-01-17 01:57:29
natges: That was a fantastic roast for dinner. @wadijoh: “From now on, I’m
only buying grass-fed.”

2010-01-17 00:09:14
natges: @wadijoh on his pizza’s dough: “This is the closest dough I’ve ever
made to Pepe’s‚Ķ This is perfect.”

2010-01-17 23:58:30
natges: Natan is going to New York tomorrow. 240-264-7264.: is going to New
York tomorrow. 240-264-7264. http://bit.ly/6MtEPG (via the Facebook)

2010-01-17 22:54:13
natges: I’m waiting LOST on my new monitor and it’s AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-17 22:53:53
natges: @elliotreed I’ll pack it in a couple suitcases and hope the customs
authority people don’t see it!

2010-01-17 21:14:53
natges: My brother: “I’ve never spent so much time in a supermarket without
buying anything.” Because you’ve never been to one as a tourist‚Ķ

2010-01-17 20:17:48
natges: Third trip to Chipotle was grrreat.

2010-01-17 19:39:07
natges: Monitor bought. Next stop: Chipotle.

2010-01-17 19:33:10
natges: Looks like I’m going with a Samsung 23″ monitor for $200 – it comes
in the smallest box!

2010-01-17 18:08:19
natges: Broadway Diner has become Hollywood Diner – and it didn’t change
one bit.

2010-01-17 17:45:10
natges: Ok, my brother and I are going back to Micro Center so I can try to
find a computer monitor / television.

2010-01-17 17:45:05
natges: My grandmother just left to return to Philadelphia. It was great to
see her!

2010-01-17 16:59:59
natges: I just realized that LivePerson stock has gone up. My grandmother
could actually sell now for a profit.

2010-01-17 16:58:35
natges: Batch #4 of cookies is being made now.

2010-01-17 16:09:00
natges: My parents and grandmother got their bagels “scooped” (with the
insides removed). I am appalled.

2010-01-17 15:37:01
natges: Brooklyn Deli has no lumberjack breakfast. Sad.

2010-01-16 23:55:08
natges: Unfortunately I ended up not getting he monitor from Best Buy
because they wouldn’t price match. I’ll go to Micro Center tomorrow.

2010-01-16 23:48:51
natges: I’m leaning very strongly toward a 23″ LG monitor for $180.

2010-01-16 23:23:19
natges: I almost got a television but it was only 110 volts.

2010-01-16 22:11:20
natges: The quest for a monitor (or television) continues at Best Buy.

2010-01-16 21:28:00
natges: Little hot dogs are served. This means it’s a party.

2010-01-16 16:50:15
natges: Here’s something depressing – a New Jersey mall is trying to
convince people to become “mall walkers” for exercise -

http://bit.ly/61yguy

2010-01-16 16:02:30
natges: @gillush It’s true – you’re not very good at the twitter.

2010-01-16 14:55:41
natges: I just ate 12 of my dad’s awesome pancakes. I think there were
12…

2010-01-16 02:44:38
natges: My grandmother is telling all sorts of great stories about my
grandfather’s family.

2010-01-16 02:13:41
natges: My brother’s birthday dinner was at an Italian restaurant called
The Baronessa. I had the gnocchi (with aurora sauce).

2010-01-16 00:45:56
natges: Is aurora sauce tomato and cream, like a rose?

2010-01-15 18:37:06
natges: @MemphisSeth nah… sounds kind of nasty.

2010-01-15 18:36:17
natges: ps. @elliotreed I mean I’m using “google apps for your domain,” not
just their apps.

2010-01-15 18:01:07
natges: It is 52 DEGREES in Maryland. I come here in the winter time to see
SNOW, damn it!

2010-01-15 18:00:36
natges: @MemphisSeth Cool Ranch sounds so exotic. I am a very traditional
guy.

2010-01-15 17:59:53
natges: @elliotreed of course Google Docs isn’t great. It doesn’t have to
be: http://bit.ly/4W2EQL

2010-01-15 17:13:44
natges: On second thought, Nacho Cheese is probably better than Nacho
Cheesey.

2010-01-15 17:13:20
natges: WTF Frito-lay? These Doritos used to be Nacho Cheesier, and now
they are just Nacho Cheese, not even Nacho Cheesey. I want Nacho Cheesiest!

2010-01-15 17:12:22
natges: Corned beef and Doritos: this is what my childhood tasted like.

2010-01-15 17:11:53
natges: @elliotreed Google apps probably sucks for enterprise. But just to
manage my personal email, it’s 100 times better than the alternative.

2010-01-15 16:19:39
natges: Happy birthday Alexander “Do I Have To Write The -Ander” Gessner!

2010-01-15 16:18:54
natges: How is Google apps so cool and how did I never realize it until
now?

2010-01-15 16:18:27
natges: @phriedman on my next trip to America, I’m going to try eating
Chipotle FOUR MEALS IN A ROW instead of just four times on the trip.

2010-01-15 03:07:08
natges: Zappos identified the shoes I wanted from the pictures I posted
online! But unfortunately they’re out of production and unavailable!

2010-01-15 01:16:41
natges: My mom is now making her THIRD batch of
the-best-chocolate-chip-cookies-in-the-world since I’ve been back.

2010-01-15 01:15:57
natges: That’s right – after lunch at Chipotle, we ended up having tacos
with our parents for dinner. I should find my sombrero…

2010-01-15 22:47:52
natges: While they get their nails done, my brother is berating everyone on
the necessity of implementing the progressive program.

2010-01-15 22:46:15
natges: My mother and grandmother are bonding by getting their nails done.

2010-01-15 21:17:27
natges: My grandmother has not been here very long, and she’s already
drinking hard.

2010-01-15 20:44:03
natges: My grandmother has arrived on a visit to Maryland. I don’t know how
this will affect my tweeting over the next couple days…

2010-01-15 19:59:25
natges: @fadetheory I will keep Estonia in mind…

2010-01-14 22:38:03
natges: Snider the Volvo guy now does Hondas and other kinds of cars!

2010-01-14 22:06:03
natges: I SWORE I wouldn’t buy any more books. But I did anyway.

2010-01-14 20:28:59
natges: Krispy Kreme is done, and I am happy: http://twitpic.com/y32uf

2010-01-14 20:14:13
natges: There are doughnuts and then there is Krispy Kreme.

2010-01-14 20:06:54
natges: A concept that’s alien to business in Israel:

http://twitpic.com/y2zkw

2010-01-14 20:02:28
natges: For all who don’t know, Krispy Kreme = heaven.

http://twitpic.com/y2ywq

2010-01-14 19:31:19
natges: I’m doing Chipotle visit number two with my brother:

http://twitpic.com/y2ubm

2010-01-14 19:20:58
natges: http://twitpic.com/y2sm8
But what about those of us who LIKE trans
fats?

2010-01-14 15:05:59
natges: It’s funny @mordechailehrer – I hadn’t even thought of it at all on
this trip. By now it just feels natural to me that I live in Israel.

2010-01-14 15:04:56
natges: My brother is making the NASTIEST omelet. There’s not even any meat
in it!

2010-01-14 08:46:05
natges: I had flank steak for dinner. Then I hibernated. Now I am awake.

2010-01-14 00:17:20
natges: Maybe I’ll get a television instead of just a monitor?

2010-01-13 22:21:44
natges: My brother just told me that Pizza Hut is changig its name to “The
Hut.”

2010-01-13 22:02:43
natges: Montrose Parkway is so disorienting.

2010-01-13 21:56:31
natges: Neil at Micro Center on the Pike is very knowledgeable about
computer monitors.

2010-01-13 21:38:47
natges: Monitor shopping is so confusing.

2010-01-13 19:42:17
natges: The line at the post office in America is so orderly. It keeps
great hours, too.

2010-01-13 19:37:45
natges: Every time I drive (a few times a year when I’m back in Maryland)
I’m amazed that I haven’t forgotten how to do it in the past year.

2010-01-13 17:40:01
natges: I just checked the mail and eight books were delivered for me.
That’s 10 so far. I’m about halfway there…

2010-01-13 17:09:42
natges: 32 degrees fahrenheit. This is the warmest it’s been since I got to
America.

2010-01-13 16:48:05
natges: And… Pizza Hut is consumed.

2010-01-13 16:26:15
natges: Pizza Hut is served!

2010-01-13 15:49:55
natges: Pizza Hut charges $2 for delivery on all orders, phone and online.
Bastards!!!!!

2010-01-13 13:49:38
natges: …I could take pictures of the shoes, put them online and email a
link, and they’d try to find out if they carry them. Nice!

2010-01-13 13:49:06
natges: I just talked with Techa, a CSR at Zappos. I’m having trouble
finding out if they sell shoes I like in a slightly larger size. She
said…

2010-01-13 03:57:39
natges: Who can recommend a 2TB external hard drive with USB 2 and
FireWire?

2010-01-12 20:52:43
natges: My suit is back from the cleaners and it looks great.

2010-01-12 20:40:12
natges: The Goodwill yield: four shirts and a burgundy light wool sweater
(MADE IN ISRAEL): $24.

2010-01-12 20:20:41
natges: In Goodwill all the store announcements are in spanish first, then
English.

2010-01-12 20:05:59
natges: I want one of these for the office: http://twitpic.com/xtqo0

2010-01-12 20:02:03
natges: I just let a woman cut my hair!

2010-01-12 19:46:56
natges: Noe this is a real barber: http://twitpic.com/xtnxg

2010-01-12 19:39:41
natges: To get your voice on WTOP, you can record an mp3 of yourself
talking and email it in.

2010-01-12 19:18:16
natges: I’m in Chicken Out while @wadijoh gets something. Too bad I’m still
full from brunch.

2010-01-12 19:16:19
natges: Nordstrom Rack just isn’t as fun as thrifting.

2010-01-12 18:55:18
natges: @elliotreed no way, I don’t smoke. My dad was getting them for my
brother.

2010-01-12 18:54:37
natges: Best Buy has changed so much. The music section is much smaller
now.

2010-01-12 18:17:42
natges: At the cigar store, @wadijoh just expressed surprise that it’s
still possible to buy rolling papers. What?

2010-01-12 17:59:58
natges: @wadijoh and I completed a Salvation Army visit. Yield: six shirts
& sweaters for me, a heavy shopping bag, shovel & rake (for him). $33.

2010-01-12 16:39:18
natges: The International House Of Pancakes: my lumberjack breakfast is
quite cosmopolitan.

2010-01-12 16:34:30
natges: Pizza Hut in downtown ghettosburg is closed?!?! Who is responsible
for this?

2010-01-12 16:02:29
natges: My brother would love this: http://twitpic.com/xsubp (he has an
anti- garlic salt facebook group).

2010-01-12 15:54:18
natges: Dead Sea products in costco: http://twitpic.com/xstg0

2010-01-12 15:42:25
natges: Oh, how I love to do the Dew: http://twitpic.com/xss1o

2010-01-12 15:39:05
natges: Falafel, explained: http://twitpic.com/xsrln

2010-01-12 15:35:06
natges: Let them eat cake: http://twitpic.com/xsr4z

2010-01-12 15:10:26
natges: Costco: a temple of American bigness.

2010-01-12 15:04:52
natges: The costco line: http://twitpic.com/xsnni

2010-01-12 15:00:29
natges: It amazes me how many people get to costco before it opens on a
freezing cold Tuesday morning and wait in line to enter.

2010-01-12 14:57:41
natges: I SEE SNOW FLURRIES!

2010-01-12 14:51:21
natges: I’m in the costco parking lot at they open in TEN MINUTES!!!!

2010-01-12 14:49:56
natges: Banking in this country is SO pleasant. The tellers are courteous,
helpful, friendly. And everything is free.

2010-01-12 14:25:56
natges: We’re looking for a Chevy Chase Bank in Montgomery Village.

2010-01-12 14:24:56
natges: I just started the day with a trip to the dentist. No cavities and
he even told me: “very good.”

2010-01-12 14:24:02
natges: P

2010-01-12 12:34:13
natges: It doesn’t seem to have snowed overnight. Lame.

2010-01-12 03:18:02
natges: Dinner: salmon fillet and a bowl of pasta exactly the way I used to
eat it when I lived here. Dessert: cookie dough. And fresh cookies.

2010-01-12 00:20:10
natges: I’m chatting online with a Patagonia customer service
representative named Elle who’s using LivePerson software.

2010-01-12 00:13:37
natges: Snow is in the weather forecast tonight! Come on, snow!

2010-01-11 23:54:39
natges: @emjohn @elliotreed Hey guys! Turns out that BB&B; doesn’t carry
Advil Cold & Sinus for that exact reason. But I managed to stock up at CVS.

2010-01-11 23:52:43
natges: I do believe this is the most shopping I’ve ever done in a single
day.

2010-01-11 23:52:18
natges: … Pike Center, Federal Plaza, Congressional Village, the one with
Penzey’s, and Saah Plaza. And there are still a lot more on the Pike!

2010-01-11 23:51:21
natges: Shopping centers visited today: Wintergreen, Talbott, Congressional
North, Mid Pike Plaza, the one with DSW on OGR, Montrose Crossing, …

2010-01-11 23:50:22
natges: @phriedman I’m glad you asked! You can use the Rapture Index to see
how close we’re getting: http://raptureready.com/rap2.html

2010-01-11 23:14:07
natges: Who sells turducken in Montgomery County, Maryland?

2010-01-11 23:11:15
natges: In case you need any assistance in your preparation for the
Rapture: http://twitpic.com/xpxsq

2010-01-11 23:09:16
natges: This hat is the coolest thing for sale in Ranger Surplus (except
the machetes): http://twitpic.com/xpxjk

2010-01-11 22:52:52
natges: Penzey’s has made me see spice-shopping in a whole new way.

2010-01-11 22:26:13
natges: At Penzey’s Spices, they really know what they’re doing.

http://twitpic.com/xpr7r

I bet they sell twice as much.

2010-01-11 21:59:13
natges: Why do manufacturers of enclosures for external hard drives
discriminate against FireWire?

2010-01-11 21:27:35
natges: A woman in Micro Center just asked if her new iPod would come
loaded with songs.

2010-01-11 21:04:12
natges: Ian at Hudson Trail Outfitters on the Pike gives such great
customer service, he must have been trained by Shannon Sullivan.

2010-01-11 20:33:54
natges: I RAN INTO JON BIRD IN HUDSON
TRAIL!!!!!!!!!

http://twitpic.com/xpahk

2010-01-11 19:46:07
natges: Traffic lights are out on Old Georgetown Road. This could get
hectic.

2010-01-11 19:43:51
natges: If I can’t go barefoot or in sandals, I prefer Born shoes.

2010-01-11 19:41:00
natges: Twitter unavailable!

2010-01-11 19:31:49
natges: Why doesn’t Zappo’s have an iPhone app? It’s 2010, guys.

2010-01-11 19:08:08
natges: DSW: the SW stands for shoe warehouse, right? What is the D?

2010-01-11 18:58:30
natges: In Israel, I love the groceries with specialty imported foods. In
America, that’s what World Market is for.

2010-01-11 18:45:50
natges: My mother is standing in line for me to get a harmless cold
medication because this country is scared to death that I’ll use it for
meth.

2010-01-11 18:22:39
natges: Ahhhhhhhhh, Chipotle.

2010-01-11 18:06:30
natges: Chipotle visit number one is underway.

2010-01-11 17:19:16
natges: @thachenster, this is what I meant: http://twitpic.com/xojbt

2010-01-11 17:16:17
natges: The Container Store: they tell me to contain myself, but really,
how realistic is that?

2010-01-11 17:05:30
natges: I haven’t had this much fun at Bed, Bath & Beyond in many years.

2010-01-11 16:35:14
natges: I’d live to get a new crock pot with some very clever features, but
they are all American voltage only.

2010-01-11 16:19:31
natges: Snuggie for dogs!

http://twitpic.com/xob0m

2010-01-11 16:17:24
natges: Alcohol breath checker comes on a keychain:

http://twitpic.com/xoapm

2010-01-11 16:03:37
natges: Why can’t I find Advil cold and sinus?

2010-01-11 16:01:34
natges: Israelis in BB&B;!

2010-01-11 15:36:06
natges: http://twitpic.com/xo5bp
Team pride for dogs. Is this going too
far?

2010-01-11 15:31:51
natges: Petco! Sharav, wish you were here!

2010-01-11 15:29:31
natges: Is Bed, Bath & Beyond going out of business?

2010-01-11 15:25:54
natges: Upscale Resale is moving and won’t reopen until next week. This is
bad for my thrifting.

2010-01-11 15:20:44
natges: I’m doing this week in Maryland and DC @fadetheory, then New York
next week.

2010-01-11 15:17:37
natges: The new Richard Montgomery High School is HUGE.

2010-01-11 15:00:12
natges: On today’s shopping agenda: a trip down Rockville Pike / memory
lane.

2010-01-11 14:22:21
natges: (c) 1980 Miles Laboratories. Here’s a picture:

http://twitpic.com/xnx4c

2010-01-11 14:21:15
natges: looking in the medicine cabinet in a renovated bathroom and found
the very same Bactine can that was around when I was a child. It even says

2010-01-11 14:19:36
natges: When I was very young, if I fell and scraped my knee or something,
my mom would spray some foamy stuff on it called Bactine. Just now, I was

2010-01-11 12:33:37
natges: Dear Adium,
Unless you fix the serious and annoying stability
issues, you might lose me one day to iChat.
Sincerely,
Natan

2010-01-11 12:32:42
natges: Dear iChat,
I will never consider switching to you until you find
a way to incorporate Facebook chat.
Sincerely,
Natan

2010-01-11 12:31:54
natges: RT @phriedman: apple customer service ftw. iphone replaced with no
questions (under warranty) due to crappy battery

2010-01-11 03:09:30
natges: New Big Love season does not seem so good. This program has lost a
lot of its charm.

2010-01-11 01:21:09
natges: …same screen, all at the same time.

2010-01-11 01:20:12
natges: In a little while I’ll watch the Big Love season premier with
my
parents. It’s weird to think that we used to gather around and watch the‚Ķ

2010-01-11 01:10:15
natges: Sony headphones now come with an operating manual. I could write
one:

“Put in ear. Turn on music. Not too loud.”

2010-01-11 00:45:41
natges: Grande mocha with extra espresso and no whipped cream: that is what
my brother gets at Starbucks.

2010-01-10 23:33:07
natges: I love that the pulled pork at Gordon Biersch comes, according to
the menu, on a challah bun.

2010-01-10 23:26:30
natges: Rockville Towne Center: the Kentlands on steroids.

2010-01-10 21:59:41
natges: Today’s shopping yield: a great American Eagle sweater. @wadijoh
will remove the logo from it for me so I don’t have to feel like a shill.

2010-01-10 21:40:02
natges: I saw a great Briggs & Riley brief case / messenger bag in the
luggage store, but $200 is not going to happen.

2010-01-10 20:46:54
natges: Snow: beautiful. Week-old nasty gray snow that hasn’t gone away:
ugly.

2010-01-10 20:35:38
natges: There’s a whole store just for legos?!?

2010-01-10 20:34:25
natges: Found the Israelis, but they were selling steamers, not Dead Sea
crap.

2010-01-10 20:27:35
natges: Americans have great escalator etiquette.

2010-01-10 20:14:10
natges: Here I am with an obnoxious hat in American Eagle:

http://twitpic.com/xk6j2

2010-01-10 19:43:56
natges: Is there a place on earth better than a Brookstone store?

2010-01-10 19:31:13
natges: My favorite American shopping mall game: locate the Israeli Dead
Sea product sales kiosk.

2010-01-10 19:27:27
natges: Sorry, it’s unnerving that this mall is full of people who didn’t
go through any security checks at all.

2010-01-10 19:07:21
natges: …unnerving.

2010-01-10 18:56:14
natges: L.L. Bean store is great!

2010-01-10 18:50:40
natges: @elliotreed it’s like Montgomery Mall, but bigger.

2010-01-10 18:49:50
natges: Standing at the entrance to a mall in Israel: security guard.
Standing at the entrance to a mall in America: valet!

2010-01-10 18:47:41
natges: If I remove a Western Digital mybook hard drive from its enclosure,
can I put it in a RAID array?

2010-01-10 18:46:37
natges: How can I remove a Western Digital mybook hard drive from its
enclosure?

2010-01-10 18:33:43
natges: I spoke on the phone this morning with service rep Laurie from L.L.
Bean and she was exceptionally helpful.

2010-01-10 18:31:02
natges: I’m on my way to Tyson’s Corner for the VERY FIRST TIME.

2010-01-10 18:16:45
natges: Do the Dew! Mountain Dew Code Red: shirley temples in a can!

2010-01-10 17:48:32
natges: You have something against skee-ball, @MemphisSeth?

2010-01-10 16:29:19
natges: @wojiatankao Thank you so much! I finally got it all smoothed out
overnight!

2010-01-10 16:28:41
natges: My father’s wireless network keeps dropping the internet
connection. Router is called D-link EBR-2310. Any ideas how I can fix this?

2010-01-10 14:39:59
natges: Some pancakes:

http://twitpic.com/xiu6k

2010-01-10 14:38:11
natges: Dear world, you think you love pancakes, but you don’t know what
they are until you’ve tasted my dad’s.

2010-01-10 03:03:40
natges: I am so proud that I made it to 10 pm. Jet lag is so lame.

2010-01-10 01:08:53
natges: @Meereeum Maryland!

2010-01-10 01:08:30
natges: @elliotreed None that I’d wear.

2010-01-10 00:13:46
natges: My dad’s famous chicken tenders (ie, shnitzelonim):

http://twitpic.com/xfows

2010-01-09 21:43:35
natges: My new toothbrush arrived. My teeth are going to be sooooooo clean.

2010-01-09 20:17:55
natges: Kohl’s was basically a success: socks, underwear, undershirts,
jeans x 2, slippers.

2010-01-09 19:55:12
natges: … http://twitpic.com/xedm9

2010-01-09 19:53:30
natges: My mom sanitizes a customer service telephone in Kohl’s before
touching it.

2010-01-09 19:36:18
natges: @elliotreed It’s not terrible if I get 31×32, but still, pants that
fit better look better and last longer.

2010-01-09 19:25:52
natges: My brother displays a “Canadian tuxedo” –

http://twitpic.com/xe83c

2010-01-09 19:20:54
natges: WHY DOESN’T LEVIS MAKE 501 JEANS IN SIZE 31×31???????????????????

2010-01-09 19:09:13
natges: Somehow Kohl’s doesn’t have the undershirts I like.

2010-01-09 18:56:46
natges: Kevin is returning early to Minnesota, so I won’t get to see him on
this trip. That really sucks!

2010-01-09 18:42:12
natges: @elliotreed No, but it goes right by my old neighborhood, between
Redland and Shady Grove Roads.

2010-01-09 18:40:49
natges: I-270, did you miss me?

2010-01-09 18:29:08
natges: @elliotreed I’m not against it or for it‚Ķ it’s pretty shocking,
though.

2010-01-09 18:13:18
natges: Love. That. Chicken. From. Popeye’s.

2010-01-09 17:51:00
natges: Popeye’s: two spicy chicken breasts, two biscuits, small cherry
coke.

http://twitpic.com/xdrjy

2010-01-09 17:46:26
natges: Love that chicken from Popeye’s!

2010-01-09 17:36:44
natges: Damn, ICC.

2010-01-09 16:47:30
natges: Meanwhile, Apple makes it EXTREMELY difficult to transfer an iTunes
library.

2010-01-09 16:46:26
natges: So. We’re thinking I’ll take a shower, put on my only other clean
clothes, then visit Popeye’s and then Kohl’s.

2010-01-09 15:48:29
natges: http://twitpic.com/xd7fe
My mom’s chocolate chip cookies: a taste
of freshly baked heaven.

2010-01-09 15:30:27
natges: Let the unboxing commence.

2010-01-09 15:19:42
natges: New computer:

http://twitpic.com/xd36j

2010-01-09 15:08:03
natges: NOTHING has changed in the neighborhood where I grew up. But just
outside it…

2010-01-09 14:57:27
natges: Pizza Hut: there’s an app for that.

2010-01-09 14:43:25
natges: Horse blankets?

2010-01-09 14:29:41
natges: There is snow on the ground in Maryland.

2010-01-09 14:20:25
natges: Breakfast or lunch??? (the first of many questions)

2010-01-09 14:09:01
natges: http://twitpic.com/xctsa
My parents at the baggage claim.

2010-01-09 14:07:40
natges: My father is following my tweets.

2010-01-09 13:52:44
natges: I have now reached Baltimore: A City That Reads.

2010-01-09 12:54:15
natges: These little planes are so awesome.

2010-01-09 12:45:59
natges: Once again, I’ve forgotten just how cold it is in America.

2010-01-09 11:00:06
natges: There are still Xmas decorations in the airport in Newark. I guess
early January is too early in the year for me to visit the USA.

2010-01-09 10:45:37
natges: Now I’m at Liberty waiting for a connectig flight to BWI.

2010-01-09 10:44:45
natges: My flight was uneventful and all the scary rumors about new
security regulations in the final hour were false.

2010-01-09 10:43:54
natges: Thanks Shawn at tmobile tech support for helping memconnect to the
tmobile edge cellular data network!

2010-01-08 21:08:01
natges: Yeah, I’ve already boarded and someone near me just asked if this
is the flight to Newark. Didn’t she need a boarding pass to get this far?

2010-01-08 21:00:10
natges: Let’s hear it for row 28!

2010-01-08 20:07:23
natges: Federal Reserve Notes: the currency formerly known as greenbacks.

2010-01-08 19:53:28
natges: @RAWagman I’m always suspicious.

2010-01-08 19:52:47
natges: @elliotreed All the flights here are international, so three hours
is normal. Plus we get to keep our shoes on.

2010-01-08 19:08:57
natges: @elliotreed Three hours. Our security goes quite fast – because
they’re allowed to profile.

2010-01-08 19:07:19
natges: Israelis are behaving themselves in line to check in. American
behind me is talking VERY loud on the telephone.

2010-01-08 18:51:26
natges: Israeli airport security is so sensible. I love ethnic profiling.

2010-01-08 18:24:37
natges: Taxi driver says I’m not Israeli because I actually waited for the
taxi that I called to order.

2010-01-08 18:19:24
natges: Airport taxi, now would be a good time to show up.

2010-01-08 12:55:52
natges: Dear Sharav,
In honor of your third birthday, I’m taking you to
stay with someone else while I visit America for a couple weeks.
Natan

2010-01-08 12:16:11
natges: Welcome @thachenster.

2010-01-08 10:33:24
natges: The quiche hunt continues at Roladin after a lovely stroll down
Chen Boulevard.

2010-01-08 10:18:58
natges: I’ve been dragged to Boutique Central to buy a quiche.

2010-01-08 09:58:22
natges: Happy birthday Sharav! Three years – it’s like you’re all grown up
or something!

2010-01-08 09:52:34
natges: Deaf dude just distributed begging cards in the restaurant.
Outrageous! Deaf people can work.

2010-01-08 09:19:18
natges: Shakshuka for breakfast! http://twitpic.com/x6gxl

2010-01-08 09:06:40
natges: Lilush doesn’t have ◊ê◊ô◊ô◊° ◊ß◊§◊î in the winter? Dude, it’s 70
degrees and sunny today.

2010-01-08 09:04:49
natges: One kilo of strawberries: purchased.

2010-01-08 06:22:25
natges: Continental allows paperless early check-in by PDA/smartphone in
some airports. Israel is not included. Can’t say I’m surprised.

2010-01-08 05:55:26
natges: My washing machine was leaking, but now it’s flooding. What’s the
most likely reason?

2010-01-07 21:48:50
natges: @ffidler That’s exactly where it was. I need it for a bat mitzvah
in a few weeks and then won’t think about it for another five years.

2010-01-07 21:47:52
natges: I just set up my G3 iMac as a server to share 1 TB of downloaded
movies and television shows! I am so proud of myself!

2010-01-07 21:12:05
natges: Where is my suit?

2010-01-07 20:41:49
natges: Sharav Gesher is the cleanest dog in Tel Aviv, thanks to Chen Stern
and me.

2010-01-07 18:15:00
natges: Twitterrific doesn’t rotate? Lame.

2010-01-07 17:59:45
natges: Thanks to Continental letting me choose my seat online, I’ll be in
28L tomorrow. It’s a window seat.

2010-01-07 17:54:07
natges: 51 minutes until I’ve backed up 1tb of movies and television.

2010-01-07 17:10:04
natges: Who wants to trade currency? My shekels for your federal reserve
notes.

2010-01-07 16:57:22
natges: Vacation 2010 has begun!

America in 140 characters or fewer is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

To get it back, I first tried following these instructions from the Israel Mac-users discussion group:

In the meantime, I got, from Apple iPhone forum, the following instructions:
1. Connect your iPhone to iTunes. From the phone’s Summary screen in iTunes, hold down the Option key and click the Check for Update button.
2. From the Open dialog that appears, navigate to the ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support folder. Here you should find a file named ~.ipcc. That’s the carrier settings update file. Select to install it.
3. Restart your iPhone. See if this fixes the problem

Unfortunately, my iPhone Carrier Support folder was empty, so it didn’t work.

Then I got this suggestion:

… I have found a simpler and very efficient solutionת which can be done strait forward:

http://wwww.iphonenodata.com/site/

It works, and it can enable you to put it to On or Off as wish.
And of course, it is on Apple and without difficulties.

This worried me because it means directly modifying the iPhone from the iPhone itself. When I go from one firmware version to another, jailbreaking and unlocking each time, I am modifying the OS from my computer, then uploading it to the phone. It feels much safer and it is much safer. Moreover, when I read into it, this didn’t seem actually to solve my problem. I needed data access to be restored; I wasn’t looking for a way to shut it off.

Fortunately, I subsequently got these instructions:

Having just bitten the bullet and upgraded my iPhone 3GS to the latest 3.1.2 Firmware I too just ran into this issue.

I searched the net and found the necessary info.

Here’s how I fixed it:

I easily found the utilities I needed for a Windows PC and as I am more at home with Windows that’s what I used.

Firstly you’ll need to download and install the program “iPhone Browser” from here: http://tinyurl.com/yfhq7lh

Then download the program “PlEdit” (Property List Editor) from here: http://tinyurl.com/ykxl4om

Open the iPhone browser program and navigate to the following directory: /private/var/mobile/Library/Carrier Bundle.bundle/

You’ll see a file on the right hand side called: “carrier.plist”. This is the file that needs editing.

Save a copy of this file to the computer’s hard drive by right-clicking on it and selecting “Save as” etc.

I suggest you make a backup copy of this file if you need to replace it at a later date.

Double-click on the “PlEdit” program and then drag and drop the file “carrier.plist” onto it so you can edit the file.

Search for the following strings:

AllowEDGEEditing

If you find it but the word “false” is there instead of “true” simply change it to “true”

If it doesn’t exist at all, just add it to the top of the file beneath this header entry:

< ?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
< !DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
"http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

I don’t know if it was necessary but I made a few more changes as I compared it to a previous file that I located from some months back, which had other entries that also seemed to enable APN editing.

Once you have made the changes save the file on the computer.

Then going back to the iPhone browser program right click on the “carrier.plist” file again and this time click on “Replace File” and then navigate to the location of the file you just edited and select that to overwrite the original version that’s on your iPhone.

Once again, I recommend you backup your original file in case you’ll need it.

Once you have done this simply go into Settings-> General-> Network, and you should now see the Cellular Data Network button that you can now access and edit the entries if need be.

This seemed to be right. I especially liked the idea of backing up my plist file, editing a new copy of it, uploading that and then being able to go back to the old version of the new one didn’t work.

Since I don’t have a computer that can run Windows, I chose the excellent iPhone Explorer (free, Mac or Windows) instead of iPhone Browser (free, Windows). In place of PLEdit, I used Apple’s own Property List Editor, which is free and comes with the Apple Developer Tools, which I had already installed.

Unfortunately, it didn’t help. After checking that all the settings were present, I still couldn’t connect to my data plan. Here’s what I had in Settings > General > Network:

So I fretted and worried that maybe I’d done some irreversible damage. At first it didn’t occur to me that I might have to switch the settings back to what they were when I originally got the data plan. Then, when I realized it wasn’t going to work, I decided to try the original settings:

APN: internet
Username: [blank]
Password: [blank]

And it worked! Yay!

iPhone OS 3.1.x Messed Up My Data Plan! is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

I looked into Flickr and Picasa, but what I found is that they both suck in their own way. Notwithstanding good integration with WordPress,

• they each have space limitations that I don’t feel like following, especially since I already pay for my own hosting.
• I’m not so keen on signing away the rights to my photos to Google and/or Yahoo.
• they’re less cool and professional-looking than a hosted solution on my own domain.

So, what should I use to make online photo galleries with my pictures? I want it to be hosted at ngng.co.il and it needs to integrate well with WordPress. Any ideas?

I Hate Gallery is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

On that note, I’ve also upgraded to firmware version 3.1.2 and it is predictably better than 3.0.

Also, since I’m mentioning it now, unlocking/jailbreaking an iPhone should never cost money. If you paid someone to do yours, as many people do in Israel, you got ripped off. In the future, you can always follow directions in an iClarified tutorial or just ask somebody for help.

Protect Your iPhone is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

What you may not know is that my router, a Linksys WRT54GL, and my AirPort Express base station, were both restored to factory default settings in the surge. For a year I’d been using the WRT54GL for my internet surfing at home, having tinkered with the settings to get maximum download speeds for Bit Torrent, and I used the excellent AirTunes feature in iTunes to send music and podcasts to speakers in different parts of my apartment via my AirPort Express, which extended the WRT54GL’s network.

That was all wiped clean a month ago, but it only became relevant to try fixing it last week, as I received a new power supply for my hard drive and was able to access my iTunes library.

I knew it would be difficult to get everything running again properly, but I had no idea how difficult. There is some good advice available online. In particular, Amit Gupta’s advice got me close, even painfully close. Jake Smith also seemed to have been successful. But I couldn’t get mine working.

After trying for the better part of a week, the closest I could get was to have the setup operational except that the AirPort Express had to be wired by ethernet to the WRT54GL – no good, since I don’t really feel like drilling holes through the walls in my apartment to run the cord all the way to the other side – or that it would be operational except without any security at all – no good, since I’m not emotionally ready to let every random stranger in the neighborhood see which television programs and movies I’m downloading.

Eventually I started getting an unbearably annoying error message, WDS Error: This Apple wireless device is set up as part of a WDS network but no other Apple wireless devices were found. Yeah, of course no other Apple wireless devices were found – but does Apple really expect that I’ll only use Apple devices exclusively with other Apple devices?

Then something occurred to me: I actually own another Apple wireless device. It’s an AirPort Extreme base station that I got in 2004 and haven’t been using recently, since I’d gotten the splendid Linksys WRT54GL router. So hooked up my computer to the Airport Extreme and hooked the Airport Extreme to the WRT54GL. Then I followed Amit Gupta’s instructions above for connecting the AirPort Extreme to the WRT54GL’s WDS network. Then I set up the AirPort Express wirelessly, but after trying and failing many times to establish a relay -> remote setup (ie, using the AirPort Extreme as a relay/remote and the Airport Express as a remote), I eventually tried setting the AirPort Express to “join a wireless network.” And it worked!

It’s awesome that Apple has such a great feature as AirTunes, but for crying out loud, the world wide web is littered with confused and frustrated forum posts by people trying to make their AirPort Extremes work and failing miserably. Or worse, they can plug the pieces into the wall and make it operate a network, but they can’t configure the network properly and can’t use it for all it’s meant to do. As easy as it is for my Mac to join a Windows network, that is how easy it should be for my AirPort Express to join a wifi network established by a Linksys router. Why doesn’t Apple realize this?

Linksys WRT54GL + Apple AirPort Express = Nirvana is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

Here’s what I wrote to them on 6 November:

Hi, a year and a half ago I ordered an Iomega hard drive from Amazon. The power supply has now stopped working. Apparently this happens rather often with the particular model in question. Iomega told me that I need to contact you to have it replaced.

The drive’s serial number is xxxxxxxxxx (it’s still under warranty). The power supply’s model number is ACU057A-0512.

Please put me in touch with the appropriate department to have the power supply replaced.

Presently I heard from a fellow named Yasreeb (at least I can assume that’s his real name!):

Hello,

I’m sorry to hear your ” Iomega UltraMax Hard Drive, FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0, 1TB (2HD x 500GB) – 33720 ” didn’t work out. Because more than 30 days have passed since you received this item, we can no longer accept a return. Our return policy states that within 30 days of delivery of your order, you may return any merchandise in new condition, with the original packaging and accessories, or any defective merchandise, for a full refund.

I’d recommend consulting your owner’s manual and contacting the manufacturer(Iomega) to see if the problem in question is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Most manufacturers list contact information on the product packaging. If you can’t find the information there, you might want to try doing a web search to find their phone number or website.

If you’ve contacted the manufacturer and they can’t help, please send us a summary of that correspondence and we’ll work on another solution.

Please visit the following link to provide the information we requested:

http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-mi?c=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We hope to see you again soon.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question:

If yes, click here:

http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-y?c=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If not, click here:
http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-n?c= xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please note: this e-mail was sent from an address that cannot accept incoming e-mail.

To contact us about an unrelated issue, please visit the Help section of our web site.

Best regards,

Yasreeb M
Amazon.com
We’re Building Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company

http://www.amazon.com/your-account

That was a pretty dumb answer, but I was excited that Yasreeb had answered me so promptly, so I shot back with:

Hi, I did contact the manufacturer and they can’t help. Here is what they told me in the most recent communication: “I advise you to return to the reseller for further assistance on this matter.”

Then I heard from Andre. He completely misunderstood what we were discussing:

Hello,

I’ve reviewed our previous correspondence about your “Iomega UltraMax Hard Drive”. I understand you’re concerned about having it replaced.

Because more than 30 days have passed since you received the Hard Drive, we can’t replace it. Our return policy states that within 30 days of delivery of your order, you may return any merchandise in new condition, with the original packaging and accessories, or any defective merchandise, for a full refund.

I’m sorry that the manufacturer couldn’t assist with replacing it for you.

If you’re interested in returning the “Iomega UltraMax Hard Drive” for a partial refund, visit our Online Returns Center for more information:

http://www.amazon.com/returns

We hope to see you again soon.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question:

If yes, click here:

http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-y?c=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If not, click here:

http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-n?c=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please note: this e-mail was sent from an address that cannot accept incoming e-mail.

To contact us about an unrelated issue, please visit the Help section of our web site.

Best regards,

Andre S
Amazon.com
We’re Building Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company

http://www.amazon.com/your-account

After Andre failed to do his job, I got kind of annoyed and wrote this email to Amazon:

I am extremely unsatisfied with the customer service I’ve received from Amazon. In particular, “Andre S” has sent me one of the more useless and boneheaded answers I’ve ever seen a customer support representative send (and since I worked two years myself in online customer support for internet companies, I’ve seen countless stupid replies). He completely failed to address the issue and foolishly thought I wanted to replace my hard drive. I want to replace the hard drive’s POWER SUPPLY, which is defective.

Please transfer this message to a supervisor / manager / someone authorized to make decisions instead of copying and pasting a template response.

A year and a half ago I ordered an Iomega hard drive from Amazon. It is still under warranty. The power supply for it has broken. The model number, ACU057A, is notorious for breaking and needing to be replaced. Go figure, mine has now broken and needs to be replaced.

I have communicated with Iomega endlessly and they insist that it’s Amazon’s responsibility, as the reseller, to replace the power supply.

I don’t give a damn that Amazon’s policy is to accept returns of merchandise only in new condition and within 30 days. Even if my power supply had broken within 30 days, it would not have been in new condition, and therefore you seem to be telling me that you wouldn’t replace a broken power supply UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. Obviously, such a policy seems designed for books, but not for electronics – which, due to faulty manufacture, occasionally break while still under warranty and need to be replaced.

Please confirm that Amazon will replace the defective power supply!

Next I heard from Luke:

Thank you for writing back to us at Amazon.com.

We regret that we have not been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction, or take further action regarding your Apr 2009 order for the Iomega Hard Drive.

However, as my colleagues have stated, the return policy posted on our website states that within 30 days of receipt of your order, you may return any merchandise in new condition, with the original packaging and accessories, for a full refund or replacement.

Unfortunately, as it has been more than 30 days since you received this item, we are not able to accept its return.

I realize that this may be disappointing to hear, but we stand firm in our returns policy.

If an item is found to be defective after the 30-day time frame, we do suggest contacting the manufacturer about the problem, as that is
the reason they provide warranties for their products.

http://www.iomega.com/

Product Information (North America): 1-888-516-8467 M-F 9am – 10pm EST
Rebates and Promotions (North America): 1-800-792-9107
Tech Support (North America): https://iomega-na-en.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/iomega_na_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.p…

I apologize for any frustration and disappointment this policy may cause. However, I hope you can understand our position on this matter. We do post our company policies online for our customers’ reference.

It is our absolute commitment to provide you the best possible customer service. Should you need any further assistance with this order, please click the link below to tell us when and where to get in touch with you, and a dedicated customer service representative will contact you by phone to provide resolution.

http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-n?c=fvrahadh3223858230&q=sn

Best regards,

Luke B.
Amazon.com
We’re Building Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company

http://www.amazon.com/your-account

I still haven’t come up with a satisfactory reply for Luke. Any suggestions?

Amazon: Customer Service Purgatory is a post from Lines Writing Lines.

Some background: I bought the drive about a year and a half ago via Amazon. It was shipped to New York. It is still under warranty. It uses a notoriously crappy power supply with a peculiar, non-standard four-pin serial port.

Three weeks ago on Friday, there was an electrical surge in my apartment and a lot of my gadgets were messed up, including the power supply for my hard drive. After shabbat, I tried visiting Bug, evidently the only store that sells Iomega products in Israel, to buy a new power supply from them. I explained to them what happened and what I wanted, and they looked at me like I’d just handed them a spare tire and a paper clip and told them to fly me to the moon. I left there and came home, where I opened a support ticket with Iomega online.

Below is my ongoing conversation with Iomega’s customer support:

17 October

Hi, there was an electrical surge in my apartment and my hard drive’s power brick seems not to be working. I understand my hard drive is still in warranty and I’d like to know how I can go about getting a replacement power brick.

19 October

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx.

I am going to create something called a Web RMA (warranty exchange / shipment) for a replacement PSU. This will allow you to create your own shipping details in our system. Please follow the steps that we send you to complete the Web RMA.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

And then:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for using Iomega’s Online Support Services. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced using your Iomega product.

Unfortunately, we have determined that your Iomega product should be replaced at this time. For fastest service, an Iomega Technical Support representative has already started an RMA to replace your product and we simply need your shipping information to complete this RMA.

To automatically complete this RMA at any time, day or night, you can now submit your shipping information to us securely through our Online Customer Support website! Follow these easy steps and your RMA will be processed in just a few minutes:

1. Go to https://iomega-eu-en.custhelp.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2. Log in using your e-mail address and “My Support” password.
3. Enter your shipping address.
4. Submit your RMA and you’re done!

Once your RMA has been submitted and processed, you will receive an e-mail confirmation with further instructions for returning your product and what to expect.

Thank you again for using Iomega’s Online Support Services!

Sincerely,
The Iomega Support Team

At this point, I followed the instructions to enter my mailing address (at work) and received the following confirmation:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for using Iomega’s Online Support Services to automatically complete your RMA online! Your RMA has been successfully submitted and is being prepared for shipment to:

Natan Gesher
[my mailing address]

Your RMA Number is: EUxxxxxxxxxx

You will receive a separate e-mail notifying you when we have shipped your RMA from our warehouse, which will include information on how you can track your order.

If you have been asked to return any product(s) to Iomega, you will receive return shipping instructions with your order.

Thank you again for using Iomega’s Online Support Services!

Sincerely,
The Iomega Support Team

Two days later, on 21 October:

Dear Natan Gesher,

The following provides information about the shipment of all or part of your replacement product under RMA Number EUxxxxxxxxxx:

Product Description:
Shipment Date: 2009-10-21 06:51:00
Shipment Tracking #: NOT APPLICABLE FOR PR1
Shipping Method: PR1
Shipping Address:
Natan Gesher
[my mailing address]

You can track your shipment by clicking on the shipping method link and entering the tracking number.

TO AVOID HAVING YOUR CREDIT CARD CHARGED:
Important! If Iomega instructed you to return your product AFTER receiving this replacement, it is imperative that you promptly return your old product. If Iomega does not receive your returned product within two weeks, you will be charged the full replacement cost of this product.

If you have already returned your old product, please disregard this note.

Sincerely,
The Iomega Support Team

Of course, I was worried that they indicated I could track the shipment but also that they’d chosen a shipping method without tracking. Still, I didn’t get upset because at least I wasn’t paying! Then more than a week went by and I started to wonder what was going on, so I wrote to them again on 29 October:

Hi, I see that the power supply was shipped eight days ago, but I wasn’t given any tracking information, so I can’t tell where it is. Can someone shed any light on this for me? Specifically, about how long should I have to wait?

This is unfortunately when I got stuck with “Jordan.” He told me to be patient:

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

Please allow up to 10 working days for the delivery as this was shipped via post.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

I couldn’t actually see any reason why a package from Europe should take 10 business days (ie, two weeks) to reach Israel. After harassing the poor person whose job it is to receive the company’s mail, and visiting the post office three times, I finally contacted Iomega again on 5 November:

Hi Jordan,

Ten working days and more than two full weeks have now passed since the power supply was supposed to have been shipped, but there’s been no sign of it at my post office (I went there today and they allowed me to inspect their ledger).

Moreover, it’s been nearly three weeks since it broke and I haven’t been able to use it. This is pretty frustrating to me, because if I’d known it would never arrive, I could just have ordered a replacement part from China and had it delivered by now.

Please tell me what is going on and when I’m going to get the package!

Jordan’s reply:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

I am sorry, I sis not realise you were in Israel. For this you usually need to return to the reseller. However, it seems that for some reason it shipped, so I am unsure of hen it will arrive.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

WTF!!!!!!!

I need to return to the reseller?!? What does that even mean? Iomega takes responsibility to replace a broken part for people who live in some countries, but not for those in others?

In any case, the reseller was Amazon.com; I’m not familiar with Amazon having a storefront and/or being willing or even able to accept a broken Iomega hard drive power supply, let alone replacing one.

Your uncertainty about the circumstances of the shipment is quite unsettling. Am I just to assume that it was shipped with insufficient postage and that it will eventually be returned to you? Is this your way of saying that you don’t intend to replace the power supply as you said you would, and that I’m just out of luck?

Moreover, whose responsibility was it to underscore my location? I’d think it would be quite satisfactory to give you my complete mailing address and let you read the country line for yourself. Am I really to believe that “Israel” was completely overlooked when I submitted my address, when it was printed, when the package was shipped and then again last week when I asked you why I hadn’t received it yet?

My opinion of Iomega two weeks ago was very high, when I ran around my office to tell all of my coworkers how happy I was that your customer support was so outstanding. Last week it took a dip, when I realized there was no way to track the package and consequently no way for me to know when it would arrive, or if it would. Now it is shattered, since if I understand correctly what you’ve wrote, you only helped me by accident and then you have no desire to see that I even receive it – after waiting all this time.

Is that it? Is there anything else you can do for me? If not – is there anything else that ANYONE in Iomega can do for me?

I thought this would shake Jordan up a little bit. Boy, was I wrong:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

Of course we can still assist you, but as I said, the usual proceedure is that you would return to the reseller. Because it is 10 working days in Europe, it may take slightly longer to get to your location.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

That is when I crossed from extreme disappointment to anger:

Jordan, I’m sorry, but your answer was not satisfactory and I do have further queries.

For starters, how much postage was affixed to the package when it was shipped? Is that postage enough for it to reach me in Israel? Were the proper customs forms/declarations also attached? It seems to me that if it was addressed to me in Israel but prepared for a shipment within Europe, there’s a good chance it will never reach me here.

Unfortunately, Jordan was still being patient with me and consequently obstructing my attempts to resolve the issue:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

Please understand that I am Technical Support and do not have all Logistics details. I cannot change the policy. I am sorry.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

I was by this point totally uninterested in continuing to deal with Jordan:

If there’s someone who has the answers to my questions, please bring my query to him, or transfer it to him so he can answer me himself.

Quite a persistent fellow, Jordan kept coming back with more ways to say he was not going to help me:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

I am sorry, this is just policy. Your PSU is on its way. Please give the shipment some more time.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

Now I tried to shake it up a bit:

It seems to me that you have no idea if it’s on its way or not, and I’m sure it can’t be policy for you not to tell me if the package was shipped with enough postage. Of course I’d be happy to give it more time, but no amount of time will convince a mailman to deliver a package without adequate postage.

Please find out how much postage was affixed to the package and also please tell me specifically from where it was sent (city and country). I will contact the postal service in that country to find out if there was enough postage for it even to reach me.

In classic hedgehog fashion, Jordan retreated to his script of acceptable answers. India is full of hedgehogs; I bet “Jordan” is an Indian:

Dear Natan Gesher,

The following provides information about the shipment of all or part of your replacement product under RMA Number EUxxxxxxxxxx:

Product Description:
Shipment Date: 2009-10-21 06:51:00
Shipment Tracking #: NOT APPLICABLE FOR PR1
Shipping Method: PR1
Shipping Address:
Natan Gesher
[my mailing address]

You can track your shipment by clicking on the shipping method link and entering the tracking number.

TO AVOID HAVING YOUR CREDIT CARD CHARGED:
Important! If Iomega instructed you to return your product AFTER receiving this replacement, it is imperative that you promptly return your old product. If Iomega does not receive your returned product within two weeks, you will be charged the full replacement cost of this product.

If you have already returned your old product, please disregard this note.

Sincerely,
The Iomega Support Team

For what it’s worth, I was a customer support representative for two years in three different companies, and one of the most basic rules I followed, even when the company had no specific policy to this effect, was: never send a customer the same email twice. If it doesn’t answer the question the first time, it certainly won’t the second time. Evidently, Jordan never learned that rule. So I decided to let him know that I wouldn’t accept his non-answer:

This is an exact copy of the information I received when it was shipped. As you can see, it doesn’t answer any of my questions.

Please answer my questions.

Finally, finally, finally, finally I managed to shake Jordan and get him to stop sending me stupid, bogus template replies:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

I have been answering your question. There is no answer to some because I do not work in logistics. I have tried to explain his. I will NOT explain this again, Sir.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

His refusal to lift a finger to help was at least better than his refusal to understand what was going on around him. So I told him exactly what he needed to do to fulfill his responsibility:

Jordan,

Put your keyboard and mouse down, pull back your chair from your desk and walk across your office to the logistics department. Then ask them the questions I’ve asked you. Feel free to print a copy of this exchange so you can be sure not to miss anything. Then write me back with the answers.

By this point I’d come to realize that dealing with Jordan was utterly useless, but I resolved to continue emailing him to demand some resolution in the hopes that another Iomega employee would intervene and save the day. Meanwhile, I ordered a replacement power supply from an online computer store based in California, at a total cost to me of $47.84 (this includes shipping). I could have done this nearly three weeks ago, and I’d already have received the damn power supply, if I hadn’t bothered to wait for Iomega’s crap customer service department.

The next day, Jordan was back at his old tricks:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

The logistic department is in a different location. I have explained the situation.

Please return to the reseller for further exchange.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

I had no intention of letting him shirk his responsibility so easily:

Jordan, as you may have noticed, you and I are in different locations, yet we still manage to communicate (though I don’t know to what extent what you’re doing qualifies as communication). If you truly feel unable to communicate with the logistics department because they’re in another location, just give me their telephone number or email address and I’ll contact them myself.

Still doing anything possible to avoid getting me answers, Jordan went back to his script:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx.

The arrangement we have with resellers for your location is that they deal with all exchanges.

The RMA was created without this knowledge and the item shipped anyway.

You get support for technical issues from us and exchanges from the reseller.

Because of this policy, I am sorry but nothing can be done.

I cannot keep explaining this. I am sorry, but this is our policy.

I think that you should get the PSU, but I cannot be sure.

I advise you to return to the reseller for further assistance on this matter.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

I’m a big fan of “I think that you should get the PSU, but I cannot be sure.” Thanks, that makes me feel great. I decided to share with Jordan some information from my simultaneous descent into dealing with Amazon’s customer service:

Jordan, the Iomega resellers in Israel do not sell the hard drive in question, nor do they carry the power supply for it. Nor do I think you’ve been reading what I wrote, because I specifically told you that I bought it from Amazon.com and not from a store in Israel.

For what it’s worth, I did contact Amazon’s customer service department, and they told me: “Because more than 30 days have passed since you received this item, we can no longer accept a return. Our return policy states that within 30 days of delivery of your order, you may return any merchandise in new condition, with the original packaging and accessories, or any defective merchandise, for a full refund.”

Clearly that’s not the situation here. My power supply broke and it was under warranty. You have acknowledged responsibility to deal with the problem. Now deal with it!

Almost immediately, Jordan replied with proof that he’s an Indian:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Thank you for contacting Iomega Technical Support. Please note that your incident number is xxxxxx-xxxxxx .

I understand what you are saying and I can see the problem here. The power supply was shipped to your location. Please can you wait to see if it arrives? There was one sent to your address. As I explained before, because you are in Israel it can take longer to arrive than somewhere in Europe. The 10 working days is standard for Europe, but I do not know how long to get to your location. This is why I indly ask for some patience.

You have been shipped to, I just don’t know when it will arrive. If something is in transit, there is no way of knowing when it will arrive after it leaves the Netherlands.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-mail.

Kind Regards,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support.

“Please can you wait to see if it arrives?” Only an Indian man could have written that sentence. Sorry India, I love you – you’re great at being the world’s biggest democracy and I eat your chicken curry and rice all the time – but your men always write in the same tone: supplicating.

Unfortunately, there’s only one way to deal with a person like this, and that is to treat him like a servant who’s done something bad enough to get himself fired. So after Shabbat, I got mean:

Would you please take your head out of your ass?

IF THE PACKAGE DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH POSTAGE, IT WILL NEVER ARRIVE!

I see no reason to wait for a package that’s never going to arrive. Contact the logistics center and find out whether it was sent with enough postage to reach Israel.

Then on Sunday 8 November I learned that a package was waiting for me at the post office. The next morning I went to pick it up. It was the power supply from Iomega. Hmmmm.

Before I even had a chance to take it home and check if it worked, I got this very strange message from Jordan:

Dear Natan Gesher,

Your RMA has been sent to:

Natan Gesher
[my mailing address]

We remain at your service for any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Jordan
Iomega Technical Support

It seemed to me that he had decided just to keep sending that response until I stopped bothering him. But I wasn’t so concerned, since I had already gotten the power supply. That night I took it home and it worked, so I figured the following day I’d send Jordan a message to tell him that he’s still an idiot, but I’d gotten the power supply and didn’t need to keep emailing him.

But he emailed me first:

Dear Natan Gesher,

The following provides information about the shipment of all or part of your replacement product under RMA Number EUxxxxxxxxxx:

Product Description:

Shipment Date: 2009-11-10 05:06:00

Shipment Tracking #: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shipping Method: UPS http://www.ups.com

Shipping Address:
Natan Gesher
[my mailing address]

You can track your shipment by clicking on the shipping method link and entering the tracking number.

TO AVOID HAVING YOUR CREDIT CARD CHARGED:
Important! If Iomega instructed you to return your product AFTER receiving this replacement, it is imperative that you promptly return your old product. If Iomega does not receive your returned product within two weeks, you will be charged the full replacement cost of this product.

If you have already returned your old product, please disregard this note.

Sincerely,

The Iomega Support Team

Did you catch that? Oh, you missed it? Here, I’ll highlight it for you:
Shipment Date: 2009-11-10 05:06:00
Shipment Tracking #: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shipping Method: UPS http://www.ups.com

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Instead of just checking to see if the package was going to get to me, which would require approximately 30 seconds of thought, one telephone call and five minutes of his time, Jordan just went ahead and sent me another power supply – this time by UPS!

I was floored. I have no idea what to say. At this point, I have one working power supply for my hard drive. Soon I’ll receive a second, which I ordered online when it seemed like Jordan and Iomega had completely failed me. Then eventually I will receive a third, which didn’t even get put in the mail until after I had already received the first.

At least I won’t have this problem again…

Iomega: Customer Service Purgatory is a post from Lines Writing Lines.