What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

I queued up once for an iPhone launch. I was number 7 or 8 in the line. It was a fun experience, but not one I’d repeat. Clapping and high fives isn’t really for me.

No, nor me.

I prefer a store to be fairly empty, and not in the throes of a marketing celebration, so that the staff will actually have time - be able to take the time - to deal with queries.

The Apple store in the shopping centre (shopping mall) across the road from where Decent Brother had worked (as a solicitor with one of the capital's local authorities) - and where I had bought more than a few Apple products - their staff were excellent - closed a few years ago, to my lasting regret.

Nevertheless, I do share @Clix Pix's sheer delight with the original MBA: When I first laid eyes on it, I will confess that it was the only time in my life when I was completely bowled over - and consumed by desire - for a product. (Okay, iPods came close); that first MBA was something I wanted as soon as I laid eyes on it, and I bought my first one in 2010, and have used hardly anything else since.

I was also taken with the 12" MacBook, I held off purchasing one merely on account of the keyboard issues - and share @Clix Pix's longing for a modern version of this to be offered to us.

Actually, today, on my mind is Decent Brother: Today, he starts a new position.

 

[decafjava]

The casual ignorance if not outright racism one runs into online.

 

[VulchR]

What's on my mind right now? I'm still mulling over the news that the very first Apple Store in the world and the US, Store #1 at Tysons Center Mall in Northern Virginia, is going to be moving to a new location (within the same big shopping mall where it has always been). ...

I used to shop there all the time in the early 90's. They were amazing. When my father died we wanted to put together a little slide presentation for the funeral, but the funeral home required everything in video format rather than PowerPoint. We didn't know how to do this, so went to the Tyson's Microsoft shop. They were rude and unhelpful. They didn't know how to do it and they blew us off. Despairing of getting any assistance from the MS store, we went upstairs the Apple store. Once we explained this was for a funeral, the assistant called over both the manager and another assistant. The three of them sorted everything out in 5 minutes and their solution worked like a charm. They didn't have the right format of CD we needed, so they directed us to a store in the mall that did. I was the only one in my family who used Apple products at that point. After that, we all did, save one Microsoft diehard.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I used to shop there all the time in the early 90's. They were amazing. When my father died we wanted to put together a little slide presentation for the funeral, but the funeral home required everything in video format rather than PowerPoint. We didn't know how to do this, so went to the Tyson's Microsoft shop. They were rude and unhelpful. They didn't know how to do it and they blew us off. Despairing of getting any assistance from the MS store, we went upstairs the Apple store. Once we explained this was for a funeral, the assistant called over both the manager and another assistant. The three of them sorted everything out in 5 minutes and their solution worked like a charm. They didn't have the right format of CD we needed, so they directed us to a store in the mall that did. I was the only one in my family who used Apple products at that point. After that, we all did, save one Microsoft diehard.

Lovely story and excellent example; my experience of Apple staff - for the most part - has been excellent.

My only regret is that closed stores has meant (in three separate cases) that staff I had liked, respected, rated and trusted, were no longer around.

 

[Clix Pix]

Were the stores closed altogether or were they actually just moved to another location, probably larger, more spacious one perhaps with easier access? If so, it is likely that many of the staff simply moved to the new building from the previous one.....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Were the stores closed altogether or were they actually just moved to another location, probably larger, more spacious one perhaps with easier access? If so, it is likely that many of the staff simply moved to the new building from the previous one.....

A mix of both; some were amalgamated (usually with a larger store, especially if there had been two stores within a certain radius), whereas others were closed.

For me, the problem was not just location, - although the new locations were a lot less convenient for me - but also the fact that some of the really good staff I had come to know had left (for example, managers of smaller stores wre not necessarily retained after an amalgamation, or were offered positions in locations - and at a grade - that didn't suit them), some to move onto other things.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My father is on my mind; he died this day 18 years ago.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My father is on my mind; he died this day 18 years ago.

Understandable. Raise a glass to him tonight whilst perhaps listening to some classical music he would have liked.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Understandable. Raise a glass to him tonight whilst perhaps listening to some classical music he would have liked.

That is an excellent idea; he loved music, and classical music and jazz were probably his favourites.

I remember that he would have music on - perhaps the radio, playing classical music, or jazz, or, equally likely, a tape, or a CD - while doing the ironing, genial and relaxed, his pipe in his mouth, (or nearby), and a glass of red wine (he loved smooth Italian red wine and good Scottish whisky) or whisky to hand.

After he retired, the only time I recall seeing him tense (before the various maladies that felled him, cardiac stuff, and cancer), was whenever he watched Manchester United (which he supported) on MOTD.

He always watched that on the second TV, in my study, - which had been my mother's office - because his temper was uncertain when watching United, and he could not bear to have anyone present; if I was reading, or listening to music, in my study, he would politely ask me to vacate the room, so that he could suffer in solitude, and would then let me know when he had finished, switching off the TV; he always waited to watch Manchester United, but had no interest in any of the other games. Then, game over, (irrespective of the result), he would relax, good humour restored, stick his head into the other room to chat to us, and return to his wine or whisky and music, - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2 was a firm favourite, as was Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours - where our company would be welcome if we wished to join him.

Meanwhile, next door, in the living room, Mother and Decent brother would also have watched MOTD, (sometimes, I joined them), amid shouts of laughter and much banter and mutual teasing.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That is an excellent idea; he loved music, and classical music and jazz were probably his favourites.

I remember that he would have music on - perhaps the radio, playing classical music, or, equally likely, a tape, or a CD - while doing the ironing, genial and relaxed, his pipe in his mouth, (or nearby), and a glass of red wine (he loved smooth Italian red wine and good Scottish whisky) or whisky to hand.

After he retired, the only time I recall seeing him tense (before the various maladies that felled him, cardiac stuff, and cancer), was whenever he watched Manchester United (which he supported) on MOTD.

He always watched that on the second TV, in my study, - which had been my mother's office - because his temper was uncertain when watching United, and he could not bear to have anyone present; if I was reading, or listening to music, in my study, he would politely ask me to vacate the room, so that he could suffer in solitude, and would then let me know when he had finished, switching off the TV; he always waited to watch Manchester United, but had no interest in any of the other games. Then, game over, (irrespective of the result), he would relax, good humour restored, stick his head into the other room to chat to us, and return to his wine or whisky and music, - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2 was a firm favourite, as was Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours - where our company would be welcome if we wished to join him.

Meanwhile, next door, in the living room, Mother and Decent brother would also have watched MOTD, (sometimes, I joined them), amid shouts of laughter and much banter and mutual teasing.

So your Father was a Manchester United fan.
Your Brother a Sunderland fan
You are an Arsenal fan.
How strange that you all followed different teams. Did your Mother have a particular team she liked?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

So your Father was a Manchester United fan.
Your Brother a Sunderland fan
You are an Arsenal fan.
How strange that you all followed different teams. Did your Mother have a particular team she liked?

Other Brother also supports Manchester United.

In fact, my German sister-in-law told me that the very first time they met (almost 30 years ago), at a time when he was already a comedy writer (and struggling actor - he performed at the Edinburgh fringe a few times, one year receiving excellent reviews from The Late Show, and the Guardian) - he had asked her whether she liked the Beatles and wondered which football team she supported. While she had no problem with the Beatles, she was a bit nonplussed to be asked about football.

My mother rather liked Ruud Gullit, - would murmur something about what an attractive man he was, (mind you, there was a time when she had liked Jermey Paxman as well, we used to tease her - she and I frequently used to watch Newsnight together) but no, she enjoyed the game - and was a sharp observer - but was not partisan in the sense that she supported no particular team.

However, she had been an excellent sportswoman in her youth, (and was an extremely good golfer in middle age) and would have made an exceptionally good analyst or commentator - she was an exceedingly keen observer of the game, and was entirely free of the emotional baggage that the rest of us had; she watched because she enjoyed it, and enjoyed teasing us.

For all of that, she preferred doing to watching. She had been Games Captain (hockey, tennis, table tennis, - as a young woman she was just under international level at the latter) and Deputy Head Girl at her posh boarding school, (A High Class Boarding Academy for Young Ladies according to its literature, which she used to quote, with a grin, years later), and - I think - would have loved (and excelled at) football if the opportunities that now exist for girls had been around in her time.

My father's fascination with cricket (which he indulged after he retired) and rugby, left her baffled. They both watched and enjoyed tennis, my father preferring the women's game, though my mother watched both - he disliked the brute power that had displaced elegance and class in the men's game.

Re support of teams: For my dad, I think that the Munich air disaster had an influence on him, for, even though he had liked United before that, I suspect that the Munich tragedy copper-fastened it- and Other Brother - following his father - strongly supported Manchester United.

In any case, I think that people come to support teams for a number of reasons: One - obviously - is geography, you support the local team; one is family identity - follow the team you dad supports, or be introduced to the traditions of a team supported by someone in your family; the third is the odd one out - when a team for some reason catches your eye and captures your heart; Decent Brother came to football as a small kid the year Sunderland won the FA Cup; for me, as a kid, it was probably the Arsenal Double two years earlier, and I knew as a child that I did not want to support Manchester United.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think that you (or one) will sometimes bond differently with different members of your family.

Other Brother and my father would bond over Manchester United; he and I would bond over music, for example.

 

[ericwn]

Life and its shortness is on my mind as I just saw the scene of a really bad car accident right by our house. I hope that driver made it out unharmed but I have my doubts from the state of the car that was still there.

 

[VulchR]

Life and its shortness is on my mind as I just saw the scene of a really bad car accident right by our house. I hope that driver made it out unharmed but I have my doubts from the state of the car that was still there.

I've seen two fatal car accidents, including one fire. Not something we can easily forget I'm afraid. I still get an occasional nightmare. I honestly don't know how emergency service personnel manage to do their jobs.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Life and its shortness is on my mind as I just saw the scene of a really bad car accident right by our house. I hope that driver made it out unharmed but I have my doubts from the state of the car that was still there.

Always a shocking and upsetting sight.

To the brevity of life, I would also add that - to me, at least, - the shock is increased by the sheer awful randomness of such accidents.

It is one thing to dice with death, when you have had a fierce rush of adrenaline, when you seek out thrills, when you are young and think yourself immortal and that life is eternal, but, it is quite another to live an ordinary respectable life, a life that is sane, responsible, composed and measured, to go about your daily business and for this to be completely destroyed by something random, something which is entirely unpredictable and something for which you are entirely blameless.

 

[AngerDanger]

Adrenaline.

I was biking home in the dark, and a car started following slowly behind me. My biking attire may or may not include rainbow socks—purely for protecting my legs from the elements, of course—and people can get a little overeager to share their thoughts.

So I ignored them for a while, but they started speeding up until they were right next to me. The passenger rolled down her window and the driver yelled something to me.

Apparently, a bear had been running towards me, and she’d almost hit it with her car. They’d shown up in the nick of time! I don't think I've ever completed that final stretch more quickly than I did last night.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Adrenaline.

I was biking home in the dark, and a car started following slowly behind me. My biking attire may or may not include rainbow socks—purely for protecting my legs from the elements, of course—and people can get a little overeager to share their thoughts.

So I ignored them for a while, but they started speeding up until they were right next to me. The passenger rolled down her window and the driver yelled something to me.

Apparently, a bear had been running towards me, and she’d almost hit it with her car. They’d shown up in the nick of time! I don't think I've ever completed that final stretch more quickly than I did last night.

Well, that’s a good way to spike up the calories burned counter 😂

Glad everyone is ok.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Life and its shortness is on my mind as I just saw the scene of a really bad car accident right by our house. I hope that driver made it out unharmed but I have my doubts from the state of the car that was still there.

A colleague once witnessed someone jump from a bridge onto the motorway. It affected him for weeks.

Sometimes when I’m in traffic and busy complaining to myself about the inconvenience of it all, I pass a car written off and think to myself, well their day is going worse than mine.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Adrenaline.

I was biking home in the dark, and a car started following slowly behind me. My biking attire may or may not include rainbow socks—purely for protecting my legs from the elements, of course—and people can get a little overeager to share their thoughts.

So I ignored them for a while, but they started speeding up until they were right next to me. The passenger rolled down her window and the driver yelled something to me.

Apparently, a bear had been running towards me, and she’d almost hit it with her car. They’d shown up in the nick of time! I don't think I've ever completed that final stretch more quickly than I did last night.

Are you suggesting bears have something against rainbow socks? 🤭

Always keep a jar of honey on you. It will appease any passing bears.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Other Brother also supports Manchester United.

In fact, my German sister-in-law told me that the very first time they met (almost 30 years ago), at a time when he was already a comedy writer (and struggling actor - he performed at the Edinburgh fringe a few times, one year receiving excellent reviews from The Late Show, and the Guardian) - he had asked her whether she liked the Beatles and wondered which football team she supported. While she had no problem with the Beatles, she was a bit nonplussed to be asked about football.

My mother rather liked Ruud Gullit, - would murmur something about what an attractive man he was, (mind you, there was a time when she had liked Jermey Paxman as well, we used to tease her - she and I frequently used to watch Newsnight together) but no, she enjoyed the game - and was a sharp observer - but was not partisan in the sense that she supported no particular team.

However, she had been an excellent sportswoman in her youth, (and was an extremely good golfer in middle age) and would have made an exceptionally good analyst or commentator - she was an exceedingly keen observer of the game, and was entirely free of the emotional baggage that the rest of us had; she wateched because she enjoyed it, and enjoyed teasing us.

For all of that, she preferred doing to watching. She had been Games Captain (hockey, tennis, table tennis, - as a young woman she was just under international level at the latter) and Deputy Head Girl at her posh boarding school, (A High Class Boarding Academy for Young Ladies according to its literature, which she used to quote, with a grin, years later), and - I think - would have loved (and excelled at) football if the opportunities that now exist for girls had been around in her time.

My father's fascination with cricket (which he indulged after he retired) and rugby, left her baffled. They both watched and enjoyed tennis, my father preferring the women's game, though my mother watched both - he disliked the brute power that had displaced elegance and class in the men's game.

Re support of teams: For my dad, I think that the Munich air disaster had an influence on him, for, even though he had liked United before that, I suspect that the Munich tragedy copper-fastened it- and Other Brother - following his father - strongly supported Manchester United.

In any case, I think that people come to support teams for a number of reasons: One - obviously - is geography, you support the local team; one is family identity - follow the team you dad supports, or be introduced to the traditions of a team supported by someone in your family; the third is the odd one out - when a team for some reason catches your eye and captures your heart; Decent Brother came to football as a small kid the year Sunderland won the FA Cup; for me, as a kid, it was probably the Arsenal Double two years earlier, and I knew as a child that I did not want to support Manchester United.

My Mother told me the story of the Munich air disaster when I must of been 5 or 6 years old and I have supported Manchester United ever since. However, I have 3 brothers, one supports United, one Liverpool and the third Everton. Now, I have 2 sons, one supports United the other Liverpool. Apart from geography I think little instances and stories influence which team you end up supporting. Even making friends at an early age can influence who you support.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Adrenaline.

I was biking home in the dark, and a car started following slowly behind me. My biking attire may or may not include rainbow socks—purely for protecting my legs from the elements, of course—and people can get a little overeager to share their thoughts.

So I ignored them for a while, but they started speeding up until they were right next to me. The passenger rolled down her window and the driver yelled something to me.

Apparently, a bear had been running towards me, and she’d almost hit it with her car. They’d shown up in the nick of time! I don't think I've ever completed that final stretch more quickly than I did last night.

Are you suggesting bears have something against rainbow socks? 🤭

Always keep a jar of honey on you. It will appease any passing bears.

My Mother told me the story of the Munich air disaster when I must of been 5 or 6 years old and I have supported Manchester United ever since. However, I have 3 brothers, one supports United, one Liverpool and the third Everton. Now, I have 2 sons, one supports United the other Liverpool. Apart from geography I think little instances and stories influence which team you end up supporting. Even making friends at an early age can influence who you support.

That’s the reason my Dad vaguely supports Manchester United.
I support West Ham because my godfather used to take me as a boy. Plus it was our most local top flight club (well truth be told they weren’t always a top flight club).

 

[rm5]

How unbelievably long it's taking me to build this template file—I've been at this for DAYS now...

What I'm having to do is go into the plugin (SINE Player) for each instrument, remove all the articulations other than the one that the track is assigned to. And then I have to do that for every articulation, and then for each instrument. It's quite tedious.

The whole reason why I'm doing this instead of having one track per instrument, is because then I don't have to deal with keyswitches.

 

[icanhazmac]

The confirmed death of customer service.

I would love to know why it is now the "norm" to sit on hold for 30 minutes plus to at times never get answered or more infuriatingly dumped into a voicemail box after X amount of time. Every single company I call is "experiencing higher than expected call volume and extended hold times", how about you hire some more people? They all take your online order quickly but god forbid you have a question.

Before anyone asks it is a benefit of WFH that you can leave a cell phone on your desk while on extended hold.

 

[rm5]

The confirmed death of customer service.

I would love to know why it is now the "norm" to sit on hold for 30 minutes plus to at times never get answered or more infuriatingly dumped into a voicemail box after X amount of time. Every single company I call is "experiencing higher than expected call volume and extended hold times", how about you hire some more people? They all take your online order quickly but god forbid you have a question.

Before anyone asks it is a benefit of WFH that you can leave a cell phone on your desk while on extended hold.

Yup! Customer service is dead indeed...

In fact, here's a good one for ya: I once called Roland (the company that makes audio gear/instruments) because I had issues with one of their recording products. So one day, I called them to ask about said problem, and they not only put me on hold for half an hour, but they then "gave up on me" and just said, "all of our agents are currently assisting other customers. Please leave a message, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible." Well that never happened, so I tried again, and got the same result. Tried a third time, same thing, so I just gave up.

Just WHY!! Did I somehow call them each of the three times when "all of the agents" were busy, and not only that, but so busy that they put me to voicemail?! Hmmm....

 

[icanhazmac]

Currently I am in the midst of 3 hours on hold (1 hour segments) with an auto parts manufacturer and all I need is an invoice! I called in an order a couple of days ago (which they answer your call for), but this order involves them putting together a "kit" of products. They have billed me and emailed a receipt of sorts but it is not itemized, that is all I need and 3 hours later still nothing. Totally unacceptable. I have also emailed 3 separate times!