Zsoldier's Rant

Comcast soon to be XFinity and update to outage tracker

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:22:00 +0000

Comcast is rebranding themselves as xfinity. Why? Probably because the Comcast name has become synonymous with horrible service. Evident to the point where I was pissed off enough to blog about it. BUT, the upside, Comcast made the effort to contact me and setup an appointment on the weekend, which was a nice change from their 'no weekend' truck roll policy. The technician was prompt and replaced my eMTA (cable modem with phone line capability). After replacing it, everything has been working great, even better than before. The one thing I wish they would change about their policies, is the lack of cable card and eMTA self-installations / replacements. This seems to hold true for most cable providers, though I don't have the foggiest idea as to why. I can understand some people don't understand what a "mac" address is, but I'm assuming those are the type of people who don't mind getting a technician to come out to their residence.

Anyway, just to be fair to Comcast, I thought I'd post a follow-up to say all is good @ this time. And good luck with the rebranding.

Comcast Outage Tracking 2009-06-24

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

I've decided to track how many outages and the length of time Comcast has issues with their internet service. I'm sick and tired of the almost nightly outage that occurs with my service and nothing seemingly being done about it. So here we go:
06/24/2009 10:21pm - Comcast contacted, automated message stated outage was known, pressed 1 to be contacted when problem resolved.
06/25/2009 9:02am - Received automated call stating issue resolved.

Total Time to Resolution: 10 Hours, 41 minutes.

Comcast is off to great start, uptime percentage: 99.87%
Based on ((24hrs x 365 days) - (Downtime)) / (24hrs x 365 days)

Amazon's Kindle for the iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:14:00 +0000

I'm not one for reading, but the thought of being able to subscribe to my favorite 'graphic novels' aka 'manga' kinda makes me giddy. They do have some technical books that I would definately be interested in purchasing, but I am somewhat hesitant to make the jump because I have no idea what it would be like trying to read it on my iPhone.

Hotcakes, Apples, and ...Rice Cooker!?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:53:00 +0000

I love my rice cooker. It's my source of food on the days I'm too lazy to make anything else and supplements when I do cook. My wife has been using it to make other things lately. She recently made this Apple Hot Cake in it. Only took like 30 minutes to make and I'll tell you what...It was yummy. Hot cake mix is basically what we Americans refer to as pancake mix.

Happy New Year!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Ein rang in the new year passed out.

MMS for the iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:08:00 +0000

One of the features missing from the iPhone is MMS. It is somewhat detrimental not having the function, but if you really think about it, is it all that important? I mean I can still receive pictures via e-mail, which for all intents and purpose is in my opinion a better way of receiving pictures. Two reasons:
1. Uses data, no MMS charge.
2. I can save the pic to my phone, then grab it later to save it to my computer.
Seems to me MMS is a bit overated. Yes, that's how phones send pictures to each other, but when you upgrade to a new phone, you have to copy those pictures off somehow. Kind of a pain if you ask me.

Geolocate this post

Posted with LifeCast

How to carry things like groceries w/ a square piece of cloth.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Live Green:How To Carry Groceries With A Square Of Cloth

Surprising

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:59:00 +0000

I've been posting things here and there on my tech.zsoldier.com blog about things I run into regarding technical stuff. Of all my posts, there aren't many, I've been getting many good comments for my entry regarding *Blackberry tethering to the Mac. Kinda makes me fell all warm inside.

http://tech.zsoldier.com/2008/04/macbook-pro-osx-105x-sprint-blackberry.html

*BlackBerry Tethering is a way to use your Blackberry device as a modem for your desktop or laptop computer to connect to the internet anywhere you have cell reception.

Nintendo DSi announced... lackluster...maybe, but smart

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:14:00 +0000

So the new Nintendo DSi has been announced and alot of people seem disappointed. So what's changed, no more GameBoy Advance slot, but instead an SD card slot. A camera has also been added. Other things have slightly changed. The key here, in my opinion, is the addition of the SD card slot. I believe this is a sign of Nintendo connecting their portable gaming device to their ultra successful Wii.
If you don't already know, the Wii also has an SD card slot which for most intents and purposes, has been only used as a storage medium for saved games, downloaded games, etc. Now that the DSi will have an SD card slot, the Wii's online shop channel can be used to sell DSi games and even possibly make downloadable Wii games compatible with the DSi.

Smart, Very Smart Nintendo. It's similiar to what Sony is already doing w/ the PS3 and PSP.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:50:00 +0000

Working from home is awesome, especially with the lack of gas in the state of Georgia.

Top Chef

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:32:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I last posted. Just thought I would share that I may show up on TV. I was invited to a cooking demo for a show on Bravo called Top Chef. It's apparently going to be held in a trailer set in one of my company's parking areas. Free lunch!! Woo-Hoo!!
If the lighting is good enough, I'll take pics w/ my iPhone.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:44:00 +0000

Heading to Six Flags Georgia for Cox Family Day.

The simliarity is uncanny...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:53:00 +0000

Both about a robot.

Both have tank type treads.
Both have a similar looking head.
Both cute in their respective ways.
Both built for a specific purpose.
Both with similar poster art.
One is animatronic.
One is CG animation.

Talk about weirdness...

Ever just wish...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:25:00 +0000

Ever just wish that when you yelled,

"Hey Kool-Aid Man!"

That the Kool-Aid man would actually bust through a wall and offer you some awesome refreshment. If not for the pure amusement of seeing your co-workers cower in fear of a giant red pitcher carrying a smaller pitcher busting through the walls of your office. Yeah... that would be awesome.

iPhone and Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:57:00 +0000

Almost every other blogging site out there has made an application for the iPhone except the one I use...Blogger. It's not that I can't blog using the phone, it sucks that I can't post photos from my iPhone at least not easily. I can post links to my photos to my flickr account, but with lack of copy/paste function, this also becomes somewhat difficult. ARGH!! Frustration. Oh and it's also kind of annoying that I can't just transfer my photos over bluetooth to my computer to upload to this site.

There are just somethings that were better with my old Sony Ericsson than with this iPhone. But with all bad things, come good things. Like how I can type Japanese on my iPhone. That function alone is worth it to me.

Let's make some toast..

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:43:00 +0000

Speakin JIVE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Speaking Jive is fairly difficult, much less trying to spell it out. So, below this intro, you will see a translation of my speak into jive. You really want to mess with that new foreigner, send e-mails, and speak in jive to them. I'm sure they will appreciate it.

Speakin' Jibe be fairly difficult, much less tryin' t' spell it out. So's , below dis intro, you's gots'ta see some translashun uh mah' speak into jibe. What it is, Mama! You's really wants' t' mess wid dat new foreigna', t'row e-mails, and speak in jibe t' dem. 'S coo', bro! Ah'm sho' nuff dey gots'ta appreciate it.

So yeah. Translate whatever you want here:
http://skylab.org/~fireball/jive.cgi

Metal Gear Solid 4...Awesome!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:54:00 +0000

My weekend consisted of going to watch "The Incredible Hulk" this Saturday. Which on a side note was a pretty good movie and was what the first one should've been. Anyway after that I holed myself up in my room and played Metal Gear Solid the rest of the weekend. And let me tell you, the game was freakin awesome. I finished the game on Normal Snake Mode (next is hard mode)
The story was awesome, albeit confusing. The graphics ridiculously nice. The one qualm I would have with the game would have to be the lack of a starting tutorial to explain the games controls. I figured it out eventually though. I want to go play it again now.

Duck..Duck...Crane!?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:26:00 +0000

I taking Ein for his walk as usual around the lake/pond. I was seeing the usual ducks swimming about when I saw this weird bird. I think it's a crane, but I'm no bird expert. Only was there that one day, haven't seen it since...

Roswell Tea House (Belgian Waffle)

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:17:00 +0000

Belgian Waffle w/ Strawberries and Cream
Dauntingly large, surprisingly light. Sweetness is provided by the powdered sugar and fresh-cut strawberries. A TRUE belgian waffle. As an American though, you may crave some maple syrup as a topping. (Carine, the owner will more than happily provide some if you request it.) I think had the strawberries been more sweet (they were kinda tart), I would have enjoyed this dish a bit more than I did. Unfortunately, my expectations for dessert left me wanting for something a little sweeter. Again, the whip cream is REAL whip cream, so it was not that sweet. It was good though in that it was light and crispy on the outside.

Roswell Tea House (Chicken Wrap Panini)

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:43:00 +0000

Matcha Tea Smoothie
I started my meal off w/ a Matcha Tea Smoothie. Soy milk, crushed ice, and matcha powder. Not sure what if anything else was in it as that is all I could taste. The basic taste is exactly what you would expect from the ingredients. The matcha has only a slight presence of taste, with more reflecting upon its color. If you don't like soy milk, this is definitely not the smoothie for you.

Chicken Panini Spinach Wrap
GOAT CHEESE!!! That's the first thing that will hit you biting into this yummy panini pressed wrap. If you don't like goat cheese, avoid it like the plague. If you haven't tried goat cheese, go on and be a little adventurous. It comes paired w/ a side salad of spring greens, sliced strawberries, craisins, chopped red onions, and some green tea ginger dressing. Oh and a cantalope slice. The wrap is a bit crunchy from the panini press, hot, and oh so delicious.

Berry Cake
The consistency reminded me more of a bread pudding rather than a cake. Mildly sweet with mostly coming from the berries. I taste blueberries and I want to say cherries or cranberries, maybe both I can't quite tell. Definitely need to work on my palette. Possibly some sweetened raspberries or strawberries as well. The whip cream is REAL whip cream, not the canned sugary stuff. Also another delicious dish.

News Story

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:37:00 +0000

For those of you that may not know, I was featured in a news story for a brief moment giving my 2 cents regarding child internet safety. Here is the link: http://www.klas-tv.com/global/story.asp?s=5102559&ClientType=Printable

If I find the video, I'll post that later. I sound like a retard in my opinion, but oh well.

Comcastic Service!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:59:00 +0000

Never before have I been so annoyed w/ a company than now. My whole ordeal started out simple enough. I wanted the triple play package (phone, digi cable, and internet), but instead of a digital dvr box from them, I wanted to cable card for my TiVo. Rep said he would get back to me as he was unfamiliar w/ the whole cable card thing. He got back to me the same day and said they have the M-Card Cable Card. Cool.
So far so good, got a call scheduled for Saturday installation week of Memorial day weekend. Confirmed w/ the rep twice that it would be a M-Card, not a S-Card. Tech comes out, doesn't have a M-Card, but digital box. Doesn't have a M-Card w/ him. So he installs internet, removes the 4-way splitter in my smart box and replaces it w/ a two way splitter like I wouldn't notice. The modem/emta he gives me is missing the battery, you know for when like the power goes out so my phone service continue to work.
Call the rep, he apologizes, schedules to have a tech come out Sunday to get me an M-Card. No call, no nothing. Call him Tuesday after Memorial Day, he schedules a call for Wednesday morning. Tech comes out installs the cable card, (opens TiVo slot, inserts, give rep over the phone serial number) done. He says give it about an hour before channels start coming in. Had to leave for work, so I would check after I got back. Still not working.
Call Comcast tech support, they try something. Doesn't work, they say I need to replace the card and that a tech would have to be scheduled to replace it. He asks me if the same time is fine. I say yes. Next day, waiting, waiting, waiting... nothing. Come to find out I was scheduled for a different block of time. Nice... Waiting, waiting, get a voicemail on my cel, didn't receive call weird. Voicemail says, "sorry we missed you, call comcast to reschedule"... WHAT!!!!??? No knock, no note, but a voicemail!? WTF!?
Call Customer Service pissed beyond belief at this point. The rep tells me that I can just exchange the cable card at a payment center. So I drive to payment center, wait 15 min in line, then the payment center rep tells me they don't have them and that a tech must come out... I'm about to turn into the hulk here.
This is who the tech is going to see tomorrow opening my door. Fine, I have them schedule another tech to come out tomorrow morning. That boy is not leaving until I get all my channels and he has a battery for my modem.

[Update: The tech came out improved my already really good signal (was getting 90% now at a full 100%). He also replaced the two way-splitter w/ a four way in my smart box. And finally he called tech support and they were finally able to figure out the provisioning error on their end to get all my channels.]

Walking Ein in our new apartment's neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:06:00 +0000

I thought this was cool looking. It's a small bridge that leads to an island w/ a couple of benches.This picture was from the other side of the lake. You can see the apartments that Ein and I are in.

Ein wanted to sit for bit and take in the view... He was really curious about the ducks.

He wanted to take another break, this time in the grass, he had just pooped near by. The lake was beautiful and with a nice trail all around. The weather was also beautiful.

Optical Illusions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nakagaki) — Sun, 18 May 2008 01:14:00 +0000

I love the optical illusions, something about messing with peoples heads.