Nike Customer Service

There are people who go throughout their entire lives and never once have called customer service about one of their purchases.  I am… not one of those people.  I am the type of person that, I went out of my way to spend money on this item, I’m gonna damn well call the number on the back of the box if I have a problem (or a simple question.

Now, if you’re still reading, which it’s likely you’re not as you’ve already labeled this is just a blog ranting about poor customer service, I’ll have you know I have had a number of great experiences with my telephone buddies.  Of course, you always run into the Microsoft tech support style over in India where I can’t hear a lick of what their saying, but I think often they’re an exception.

A few days ago I ordered a nice Official Netherlands Fifa Jacket to celebrate my love for the team (and it’s pretty orange).  All was good and well in the world of Miranda until I read through my confirmation e-mail the next day to notice, sadly, I had mixed a few numbers around in my house number so that it resembled my Bowling Green address.  Oh shit… was the first thought through my mind and I quickly checked to see if the Florida address existed.  It did not.

Because the item had not shipped, I decided to call Nike and have them fix the address typo.  Simple enough, right?  You would be very, very wrong.  In one of the worst customer service experiences I have ever had, I was cut off repeatedly by a man who had no idea what he was talking about and told to call FedEx.  Now, I knew that was BS because FedEx doesn’t re-label packages on command, that’s just not their policy.  But… being the nice person I am, I got off the phone with him and called them…

To get another person who had no flipping idea what she was talking about.  Now… this person had an excuse as she was an old woman and old people get a free pass.  It’s not discriminatory if it’s true; Most old people have no idea what’s going on.  She was nice though, and told me what I already knew about FedEx policy, especially on packages that haven’t even been shipped yet.  She then told me to call Nike back and bitch them out.

So I did…  and I got yet another guy who had no idea what he was talking about.  So I asked for a supervisor and after half an hour wait was connected.  She came on the phone and drowned me in apologies telling me how she knew what my problem was and how she could fix this with no problem, and how sorry she was.

So I got my jacket today…

 

Yep, bow to the awesomeness.

On a minor note, I cut my middle finger today and am now realized how much I used it typing.  You should feel loved… I slaved over this blog post… there’s blood all over my keyboard… (Nah, there isn’t, don’t worry, lol)

Night all…

Potato Shooters: I have come across something amazing…

This is going to be an “In the moment” blog post, because I have come across something I deem so amazing, it has been added to my bucket list of awesome things to do before I get too old to have fun doing stupid shit.

I’ve heard of potato cannons before, but I’ve never been interested enough to actually see on in action until I came across this video…

HOLY SHIT AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!  This is a moment where Miranda’s jaw drops in total admiration… They built these by hand…  And if they can build them… They can teach me to build them…

So then I began searching for some sort of instructional website.  Well, behold, the same people that made this video created easy to understand video instructions so that I too can blow shit up.

The following are the instructional videos for an average potato gun utilizing hairspray.  I think it’s pretty sweet for a first go and once I’m not living either at college or in my parents house where IED’s are not considered a viable hobby, I will be making one and taking it out to a field somewhere and playing around with it.  Don’t worry, I’ll make a video.

Bow to the awesomeness and enjoy.  As for me, I will have to wait a couple years before I have the freedom to make my own.

This blog post courtesy of…

Microsoft, yes you wonderful Microsoft with your big CEO Bill Gates!  For those of you in the gaming community, you all know that this week is the yearly celebration of gaming; the week where all of the gods of consoles smile upon us and unveil their gifts for the upcoming year… for the small price of your monthly paycheck.  Yes, this is E3 week… and today was the Microsoft press conference.

I am an Xbox gamer, 100%.  I used to be a huge Nintendo geek, but then I grew up and realized jumping around and collecting coins was much less satisfying than wielding a 50 cal and popping heads from a rooftop.  This year Microsoft did not disappoint!  They gave me tons of fodder for my blog which is a celebration all its own.  Fasten your seatbelts, gents!

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Gears 3

Lawdy lawdy!  Two long years ago Gears of War 2 blew my mind and continues to blow my mind today with the never boring Horde and the satisfying spat of a curb stomp finishing move.  It helps to have two best friends who adore the game far more than you do.  Only a few weeks ago was the trailer released and today we got our first look at gameplay in the campaign, including a campaign co-op mode for 2-4 people!  No longer does third-wheel jimmy have to sit and watch… you can listen to his screams of “REVIVE ME!!!!” too.  As an afterthought, one of the representatives also mentioned a new game mode called “Beast.”  We’re all certainly wondering what that is.

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Fable 3

I borrowed Fable 2 from a friend and played it through, enjoying it immensely having come from such RPG’s as The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and Fallout 3.  It was different, a bit more cartoonish, and a bit more decision based.  I would watch the press conference just to see the trailer for Fable 3 if you’re a fan, because even though I kinda played through it and didn’t stop to smell the roses, it looks like I’m going to be picking that up and I’m stingy when it comes to games.

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Halo Reach

Now, if you’re a Halo fan you probably played the Beta when it came out.  At E3 they just showed you what was missing:  A sneak peak at the campaign.  I worry about this game; I’m going to be honest.  There were a lot of things I personally did not like about the Beta.  It was fun, but I liked the feel of Halo 3 better and felt the franchise was trying to be something that it wasn’t in this new game.  It also unnerved me at the amount of attention they were putting on the Online play and little to no attention on the campaign.  We saw this with ODST:  An extreme focus on Firefight mode, and a pathetic storyline.  This is something I’m going to have to watch.  It’s sad that I’m more excited about Gears then Halo, which got me into FPS’s in the first place.

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Kinect

If you haven’t watched the press conference, you still know it as Project Natal.  I am an extremely critical person, mostly of myself.  I am very critical of this idea.  Back when the Wii came out, I decided to buy it instead of the 360 because I was a broke kid and my parents didn’t buy everything for me.  that was a serious mistake.  The Wii is fun, don’t get me wrong, but it’s for people who are not serious gamers.  I don’t mean to insult, but it just lacks the power and advancement that the 360 and the PS3 has.

When the idea of Natal first came out I immediately thought, “Oh hell no, Microsoft is going to copy Nintendo and I’m going to have to end up buying a bloody Playstation.”  Some times has passed and at this conference Microsoft has swayed me a little, though I am still not on board.

Let me be straight.  When you introduce “Kinectimals” or whatever the hell that game is where you play with fuzzy animals to a group of Microsoft fans who are used to blowing heads in Gears and CoD, we are not amused and not impressed.  That is like Nintendogs on the Nintendo DS… cute… but not fun past the first two minutes.  I don’t want to play with fuzzy animals… I have a real dog I do that with.  If you create games where the object is to play with fuzzy animals, your market will not be pleased and they will leave.  This is the same reason I left Nintendo.

Moving on.  The menu control is cool, but I have this controller that already does that without me having to wave my arms around like an idiot.  The camera could be nice to talk to friends… except then I can’t play in my underwear.  Do you see my problem, Microsoft?  Give me a game that will convince me I will enjoy playing this; Don’t give me reasons to hate it.

One of their big announcements was a fitness game to help people exercise and lose weight by scanning your body and seeing “problem” areas.  This is what I imagine in my mind:  Miranda:  “Alright Xbox!  Let’s play Gears 3”  Xbox:  “I’m sorry Miranda, I can’t let you do that.  You must run five miles first and then do yoga before you can sit on the couch and do nothing.”  “But it just got released!”  “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you.  Did you say, “Start Fitness Instructor?” It’s a cool idea, it is, I might even look into it, but it’s not a selling point for a 360 gamer.

In the conference, Microsoft danced around the stage at the prospect of a Star Wars game using motion sensing controls.  My first thought:  “EPIC LIGHTSABER DUELS!”  Then they proceed to show me one of the most retarded sights I have ever seen!  We’re talking N64 gen graphics, moving in a straight line and blocking laser rifles.  WHAT.THE.HELL!  How can you screw up Star Wars!  Pathetic.  Microsoft!  YOU MUST DO BETTER!

So when it comes down to it, my opinion of Kinect:  Will not buy until I see a game that is  1. Fun, 2. Has graphics that don’t make my eyes melt, and 3. Isn’t playing with cute fuzzy animals with no point in sight.  Give me motion censored CoD, Gears, Halo, anything good and then we’ll talk.

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ESPN

For all you sports fans, ESPN has partnered with Microsoft and you will now get ESPN on demand, on your Xbox for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And the sports fanatics cry in happiness.

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Oh yeah, and because I skipped all the junk that I didn’t care about or simply forgot about, here’s a link to the MICROSOFT PRESS CONFERENCE!  It was an hour and a half long, so I missed some things I’m sure.  Go grab some popcorn and a drink, have a seat, and enjoy.  Or don’t, I don’t care.

ADIOS AND THANKS FOR READING!!!!!

P.S. and when they show you the games for Kinect, pause and take a look.  I thought I saw Bakugan… really… Bakugan, Microsoft?  I don’t want that shit.

A bit of a break/no muse/I said screw it…

This blog fell off the face of the internet a couple months ago now.  I decided I needed a base idea/muse to make a blog.  After doing that I tried to start another blog based on anime and then realized I didn’t have the time for a blog period and deleted that one too.  Now I’ve pretty much said, “Screw it, I don’t need a theme.”

In conclusion, this blog is going to be about whatever I feel like it being about on the days I decide to write something.  If you’re interested in today’s topic, read, if not, I don’t care.

Now that school is out and I have a break from the hectic life that is college, I find myself utterly and completely BORED.  I have nothing to do at all.  It’s rather sad.  One of the products of this boredom is that I’ve started writing again (obviously *cough*thisblog*cough*) on this site.  It’s modern, supernatural RP set in Seattle.  Currently I have one character on it, but it seems promising so there may be more.  My main username is TheSkyIsFalling.

Another product is infinite time for VIDEOGAMES!!!!!  I’ve been playing Red Dead Redemption for the past two weeks and it is AMAZING!!!!!  Which you should have heard if you’re into videogames at all.  I’ll post a review of it soon. 

That’s pretty much all I have right now.  I did attend MTAC this year, so I may post some about my first experience at a convention.

Awesum

It's a long wait 'til I'm through here and done...

This semester I really feel as though I'm in a bit of a slump. Most of the classes I have require very little in class attention/participation, so I find I feel as if I haven't done anything, yet I'm always working on the next paper, or studying for the next test. It's quite exasperating. In addition, I don't feel my grades are up to par, and even if they were I certainly wouldn't know about it as only two of my five classes keep their grades posted online, one of which I only have one grade in due to the fact that the entire class score is based solely on tests.

My muse is also non-existent. I start writing papers more than a week in advance only to stare at the blank paper on Microsoft Word and sigh, because my mind will not spit forth anything that makes an sense at all. I write papers that are average at best and turn them in knowing that I won't be getting a very good grade, and nor does the paper deserve one. But hell, what am I supposed to do?!? I cannot force my mind to cooperate with me, and if I can't form a logical argument, then there is no paper.

I personally blame all the years of fighting over every small little thing which has led me to have no drive in me to even bother anymore. My Political Science teacher assigns a paper on the merits of Affirmative Action and Equality of Result and I know without a seconds thought that I disagree with it, but hell if I can remember why! Other than the blatant racism and the fact that equality of result is practically socialism and nothing will kill the workforce faster.

It's as if I know the answer, but either I don't care enough to give it, I don't see what difference it will make if I do give it, or I can't seem to be able to figure out a logical reason to be against it. It's all opinion. I live in a free country so it really doesn't matter what my opinion is or what out of the blue backing I have for it. I don't believe that of course, not even close. I know the purpose of this is to test my Critical Thinking skills, but it seems that since the semester began I have none.

I tell ya, I get so damn sick of duking it out with so many people, or better yet biting my tongue and keeping my mouth shut. I do both in about equal amounts these days, and they both annoy the Dickens outta me. When you are surrounded by people that believe and are doing the wrong things, and believe me, that pretty much sums up everything college is about, how are you supposed to not step off the right path and join them?

The world sucks... it really does... and it's a hell of a long wait until I'm through here and done. And I can sit here and wish and pray that everyone could just do the right thing and believe the right thing, but it's really never going to happen. I'll be honest, it won't just not happen with everyone, it won't even happen with the majority.

I'm done for today, that's pretty much most of my frustration in a nutshell.