Posted by Peter Morris
Thu, 29 May 2008 10:55:00 GMT
We have recently moved our gas supplier from NPOWER.
When with NPOWER we have been having meter readings, some estimated but many actual readings.
In addition, we have been paying by direct debit.
So, I was very surprised to receive a demand for almost 500 pounds.
While disputing this, we receive the ‘final demand’ for this amount.
I phone them, and it is explained that although they control the amount of the direct debit, the bills and direct debit are not calculated from the readings. Yes folks, the amount of gas you use has no bearing on the amount you are charged, OR it turns out, the actual cost of a unit of gas.
They weight each months gas usage differently so as to smooth out the bills across the year. This means that spring is exactly the wrong time to change gas supplier. And the mathematics of the situation make it impossible for mortal man to dispute their assertions.
It also conveniently makes it annoying to attempt to change the supplier as you can never know how much they are going to deem you owe.
Whatever happened to paying for what you owe? Or is that just too simple?
Posted in Mr Angry | Tags gas, gougers, npower | 1 comment
Posted by Peter Morris
Mon, 05 May 2008 18:11:00 GMT
I have just finished watching U-571. An American made film about capturing of enigma equipment during the second world war. Now, I went in, KNOWING that I would be annoyed, but willing to forgo historical veracity for the sake of a good story, and in that frame of mind I was able to enjoy the film.
But, it came to the end, and before the end credits, the following came up on screen.
This film is dedicated to the bravery of Allied sailors and officers who risked their lives capturing Enigma materials from U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic.
May 9, 1941
Enigma machine and coding documents captured from U-110 by HMS Bulldog and HMS Aubretia of the 3rd Escort Group
October 30, 1942
Short weather cipher captured from U-559 by HMS Petard
June 4, 1944
Enigma machine and coding documents captured from U-505 by U.S. Navy Task Force 22.3
Now, I have nothing but admiration for the finesse with which the American producers of the film have spun the facts there.
First, what does H.M.S stand for? What part of the American Military? Which military? which Nation? well, I dunno, it does not SAY… but, when it is a U.S. operation, they say. In actual fact, HMS stood for HIS MAGESTIES SHIP. The designation given to ships from the ROYAL NAVY, thats BRITAIN folks, not an American in sight.
Also, the main source of intel regarding the Enigma system was not gained from these boats. It was gained early on, before the fall of Poland by the POLISH intelligence agencies, and smuggled out from Poland when it fell. Smuggled to England, where the staff of Bletchley Park worked to crack the ciphers with the help of Colossus and Alan Turing.
Yes, no doubt the people on all of those missions displayed great heroism, but the portrayal of the importance of this event and who actually made a difference, well… Frankly, if we where not already winning by 1944 when the American operation took place, well, we probably would not have won.
Ok, Mr Angry is stepping down, after having vented his puss filled spleen.
Posted in Mr Angry | 1 comment
Posted by Peter Morris
Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:50:00 GMT
This is my first ‘Mr Angry’ post in a while.
But, here goes…. RANT on!!!
I just received a phone call for Wendy (the missus).
I picked up the phone, said….
‘Hello?’
silence…
‘Hello?!’
click…
‘Hello, may I speak to Mrs Morris please?’
ARGHHH….. flippin’ call centres.
I hate that 5-10 seconds. I really do. We should do something about it.
That pause was because the call centre operators do NOT ring the number. Their computer rings, listens to the line, and when I answer, and it detects that there is a PERSON on the end of the line, it THEN (and only then) looks for someone to talk to me, and connects me to them.
All very efficient, but it is based upon the idea that THEIR time is worth more than mine, and they can waste MY time (admittedly only 10 seconds or so).
Now, SOMETIMES, their computer system will not have anyone to answer at that particular second. And you know what it does? Does it apologise? no, does it play a message saying it will call back? NO, it flippin HANGS UP. Institutionalised SILICON RUDENESS!
But I say NO! I say, my time is worth more to me! This is my windmill. This is my cause.
If I receive that call in the future, I don’t know exactly how it’s going to go…
I am considering a number of strategies.
1) As soon as I don’t hear a voice, I HANG UP.
2) Refuse to connect the human (once on the line) until I have talked to a supervisor and explained my position, and that NO phone call with a 10 second silence will be countenanced in the future, THEN hang up.
Posted in Mr Angry | no comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:48:00 GMT
Cory Doctorow in a recent BoingBoing posting says…
That Starbucks in Britain are filthier than their US counterparts because the US customers are conditioned to clean up after themselves while the British customers do not.
Well, maybe, but its deeper than that.
My most local Starbucks is in the Trafford Centre.
When the centre opened I went there and wanted to try out the Starbucks.
I had been conditioned by all the coffee shops shown in US shows to expect somewhere that was actually COMFORTABLE.
US coffee shops are third places, comfortable places, places to sit, talk, socialise.
The experience I received in Starbucks in the Trafford Centre was different.
The seating was hard, cold aluminium chairs, set close together in a cramped area.
This does nothing to foster a thirdspace atmosphere. So, maybe, UK starbucks are dirtier because the company does not foster the same social experience as the US stores.
Not having gone to a Starbucks in the US, I don’t know if the same experience is evident there, but its just a thought.
Posted in Mr Angry | no comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:10:00 GMT
I would love to own an anti-virus company, but I just don’t know if I would be able to sleep at nights.
The other day, I had to do something to my sons laptop, and when I logged in, the AV software informed me that the machine had 27 virii.
When I tried to use the software to remove the critters, I was told that it was unable to do this as the subscription had lapsed, ‘and for just 22gbp’ I could have a years subscription.
So, out comes the plastic, and I dutifully dole out the dosh and download the newest virus definitions.
Now comes the long wait as the machine is scanned for the afforementioned virii.
How many did the newly installed software find?
NONE!
Not one.
Where did they go wonders I.
Lovely business. I just wonder how they can sleep at nights.
Posted in Mr Angry | 2 comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Mon, 27 Mar 2006 08:29:00 GMT
Or why controlling the playing field gives you the game.
British Politics, sleeze and hidden agendas.
I feel that the current government problems regarding cash for parliamentary seats scandal is being manipulated to forward a hidden or not so hidden agenda.
Read more...
Posted in Mr Angry | no comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Sun, 29 Jan 2006 18:41:00 GMT
I turned on the TV the other day and there was that “Brainiac : Science Abuse” program on.
So, I watched it for a bit. It made me angry.
That Ain’t science!
The investigations where performed really badly.
For instance, they wanted to find out if there was a speed difference when sending a a text message depending on multiple factors.
So they had the presenter sitting in a field with a cellphone and arranged for many other people to send messages at the same time from different locations.
Out in the country where there would be minimal other cell traffic
From right next to the receiving phone
From a city up high.
From very near to a cell tower.
They found that the rural cell with little other traffic arrived first.
Ok, you think, so far so good.
Now, do it again, and again, and again, would want a sample of at LEAST 50 or so calls, and you would not want to have them one after the other, there may be some caching of connections (please understand I do not know ANYTHING about cell networks)
But NO, they did it ONCE and felt that the answer from one sample was reasonable.
Having this program have “Science” in the title is disgusting.
Posted in Mr Angry | 10 comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Sat, 24 Dec 2005 09:06:00 GMT
I have been watching the Manga series based on Ghost in the Shell.
And in watching it, I remember a question I have asked myself a number of times.
Why are manga characters almost always western in appearance?
From “Akira” to “Ghost in the Shell”
most of the major protagonists are western in appearance even when they are quite blatantly meant the be local characters.
Answers on a postcard.
Posted in Mr Angry | 3 comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 09:47:00 GMT
I purchased my ticket to London last night.
When I was young, I used to go up to Edinburgh every summer to stay with relatives.
I would go to the train station, buy a ticket (saver return £18.50), get on the train, and arrive there later that day.
That £18.50 is important.
Now, look into getting a return from Manchester to London, and am told, that if I pick the ticket up on the day, that it will cost over £190.
But that if I buy it over the phone or the internet with a creditcard and give lots of personal details (home address, age, telephone number etc) I can have the same ticket for £34.
WHY?
I got to wondering. Whats the difference?
Here is a theory.
They want to know WHO you are and want to know ahead of time WHERE you are going.
But WHY?
Are they being pressured? They get access to the lines from Railtrack or whatever its called now. And thats owned by the Government isn’t it?
Is it paranoia if THEY are still out there?
Posted in Mr Angry | no comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Sat, 03 Dec 2005 22:23:00 GMT
I really love 24.
But, in season 4, I notice something.
In his relentless quest to defeat the terrorists, Jack Bauer violates every one of the rules he has sworn to uphold and protect.
Even to the point of performing terrorist acts on foreign soil.
Trampling civil rights, tampering with evidence. Perjury.
Now, I admit, that hard times take hard choices, and can admire and respect the character of Jack Bauer, but still. I think that Season 4 has stepped over a line.
How ironic that the very acts of terrorism against a so-called “free society” prompt the guardians of that society to violate their most closely held beliefs, lowering them to little better than the barbaric terrorists they claim to be guarding against.
Posted in Mr Angry | no comments
