Happy Leap Year!

Happy Leap Year!

Clueless in the Kitchen with Bobby Flay

I received a request today to post the following information regarding a TV show that's casting terrible cooks in Memphis. Those selected will learn to cook with Bobby Flay. I sent an e-mail back asking for more information, but for now:

CLUELESS IN THE KITCHEN? LEARN TO COOK WITH BOBBY FLAY!

Single and can't cook a meal for one? Frustrated because you don't know how
to pack a nutritious lunchbox for your kids? Forgo paying for culinary school
and learn the basics in two weeks with Bobby Flay's "Real Food Cooking
School."

Impress us with your wit and your lack of food knowledge… Bobby Flay is
ready to school you as only an Iron Chef can! You'll learn the basics of
grilling, sautéing, knife skills, how to make simple, nutritious meals from real
foods…and so much more!

If you're feisty and eager to step up your cooking skills: make us a
3-minute VHS tape or DVD telling us your worst cooking story, the most horrible
meal you ever cooked, and why you should be a part of Bobby Flay's "Real Food
Cooking School."

Worried? Don't be – you'll be having too much fun! Remember…have a family
member, best friend or spouse make an appearance on your tape – a little
testimonial, "Oh my god, she regularly burns the bottom of the sauce pan!" goes
a long way.

All applicants should live in the United States, be over the age of 18, and
be available April 15-30th for filming in New York City.

Please mail tapes by March 22nd to:
ATT: Real Food Cooking School
110
Leroy Street
New York, NY 10014

Questions? Email us at realfoodcookingschool@gmail.com

Sprint Still Sucks

How hard does it really have to be to activate a Sprint phone? I've been at it for over 30 minutes. Since I have extra time, here's a transcript of my online conversation so far.

Is it just me?

The competent guy was able to get me going in 5 minutes over the phone.

5:00:06 PM		System	Connected to sprint-ap2.cnxchat.com
5:00:06 PM		System	Session ID: #######
5:00:11 PM		System	Please hold and the next available agent will be with you shortly.
5:00:12 PM		System	Shanti has joined this session!
5:00:12 PM		System	Connected with Shanti
5:00:12 PM		Shanti	Thank you for contacting Sprint. My name is Shanti. How may I assist you today?
5:00:22 PM		Me	I'm trying to activate my new phone.
5:00:51 PM		Shanti	I will be happy to assist you.
5:01:06 PM		Shanti	For account verification, may I please have the 6-10 digit pin number on the account or could you please answer your security question for me?
5:01:20 PM		Me	Sure.
5:01:25 PM		Me	*******
5:02:27 PM		Me	Hello?
5:03:37 PM		Shanti	Thank you for your patience, as I am accessing your account.
5:07:23 PM		Shanti	Thank you. Has any of the steps been done online yet?
5:07:45 PM		Me	I went through the first 4 steps and it brought up this dialogue box.
5:08:03 PM		Shanti	What type of phone is the new phone?
5:08:11 PM		Me	I took off the battery, entered the phone identifier, entered my email address, and my password.
5:08:31 PM		Me	It's a Red Motorazr by Motorola.
5:08:43 PM		Shanti	Are you trading this for another phone?
5:09:03 PM		Me	It will replace an existing phone, yes. I want to keep my ###-###-#### phone number.
5:09:20 PM		Me	I want the Motorazr to use my ###-###-#### phone number.
5:10:43 PM		Shanti	Did the system already give you the numbers?
5:10:56 PM		Me	I'm not sure I know what you mean.
5:11:15 PM		Me	I put in the numbers from under the battery of the phone, but I have not received any numbers.
5:11:28 PM		Shanti	Thank you.
5:15:05 PM		Shanti	Thank you, we are now ready to begin.
5:15:16 PM		Me	Okay.
5:15:26 PM		Shanti	Did it say you are ready to program the phone?
5:15:36 PM		Me	Did what say I am ready to program the phone?
5:15:43 PM		Me	Should I turn the phone on?
5:15:50 PM		Me	The battery was out for the last step.
5:15:56 PM		Shanti	Yes please turn the phone on.
5:16:42 PM		Me	Okay, I have turned the phone on.
5:16:53 PM		Me	It doesn't say anything special.
5:18:17 PM		Shanti	Enter #########
5:18:52 PM		Shanti	The last # entered will not show on the display. The Service Programming screen will be displayed, highlighted on View
5:19:12 PM		Shanti	Scroll down to Edit and press OK. Enter MDN will be displayed
5:19:21 PM		Me	I typed that, but the last # does show up, and no other screen is popping up.
5:19:24 PM		Me	Let me try again.
5:19:31 PM		Shanti	No, that is ok.
5:19:36 PM		Shanti	It says that,
5:19:42 PM		Shanti	Please do not do it gain.
5:19:47 PM		Me	Okay.
5:20:17 PM		Shanti	Did you enter the MDN number?
5:20:41 PM		Me	MDN number? No. Should I enter a number?
5:20:46 PM		Me	This is the first time I have turned the phone on.
5:21:17 PM		Shanti	Have you done the first few steps, entering the previous numbers?
5:21:40 PM		Me	I entered "#########"
5:22:02 PM		Me	The first 4 steps I followed were on Sprint.com, not on the phone.
5:22:47 PM		Shanti	did you enter the MDN number?
5:23:08 PM		Me	What is the MDN number?
5:23:23 PM		Me	I entered a number into sprint.com that is the DEC device identifier.
5:23:28 PM		Me	Is this the number you mean?
5:24:07 PM		Shanti	That is on the side of the box or the back of the battery.
5:24:21 PM		Me	Yes, it is behind the battery.
5:24:32 PM		Shanti	It is on both.
5:24:40 PM		Me	Okay.
5:24:50 PM		Me	Yes, that is the number that I entered in.
5:25:27 PM		Shanti	press ok.
5:25:43 PM		Shanti	Enter MSID screen will be displayed NOTE: Entering the numbers will clear out any numbers that are currently in the phone Enter the 10-digit MSID and press OK. This will take you back to the original Service Programming screen Scroll down to Done and press OK. The phone will power-cycle and programming is complete
5:25:46 PM		Me	I entered that number into Sprint.com, not into the phone.
5:25:57 PM		Me	I am not on a screen that will allow me to enter that into the phone.
5:26:12 PM		Shanti	You are programming the phone, all the steps are being done to the phone now please.
5:26:28 PM		Me	That's fine.
5:26:37 PM		Me	But, where do I enter in that number on the phone?
5:27:03 PM		Shanti	In order to prevent lock up of the phone.
5:27:08 PM		Shanti	Please call Technical Support at 877 345 7895.