Tuesday, February 26, 2008

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

Friday, February 22, 2008

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

System

Connected to sprint-ap2.cnxchat.com

5:00:06 PM

System

System

Session ID: #######

5:00:11 PM

System

System

Please hold and the next available agent will be with you shortly.

5:00:12 PM

System

System

Shanti has joined this session!

5:00:12 PM

System

System

Connected with Shanti

5:00:12 PM

Agent

Shanti

Thank you for contacting Sprint. My name is Shanti. How may I assist you today?

5:00:22 PM

Customer

Me

I'm trying to activate my new phone.

5:00:51 PM

Agent

Shanti

I will be happy to assist you.

5:01:06 PM

Agent

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

Customer

Me

Sure.

5:01:25 PM

Customer

Me

*******

5:02:27 PM

Customer

Me

Hello?

5:03:37 PM

Agent

Shanti

Thank you for your patience, as I am accessing your account.

5:07:23 PM

Agent

Shanti

Thank you. Has any of the steps been done online yet?

5:07:45 PM

Customer

Me

I went through the first 4 steps and it brought up this dialogue box.

5:08:03 PM

Agent

Shanti

What type of phone is the new phone?

5:08:11 PM

Customer

Me

I took off the battery, entered the phone identifier, entered my email address, and my password.

5:08:31 PM

Customer

Me

It's a Red Motorazr by Motorola.

5:08:43 PM

Agent

Shanti

Are you trading this for another phone?

5:09:03 PM

Customer

Me

It will replace an existing phone, yes. I want to keep my ###-###-#### phone number.

5:09:20 PM

Customer

Me

I want the Motorazr to use my ###-###-#### phone number.

5:10:43 PM

Agent

Shanti

Did the system already give you the numbers?

5:10:56 PM

Customer

Me

I'm not sure I know what you mean.

5:11:15 PM

Customer

Me

I put in the numbers from under the battery of the phone, but I have not received any numbers.

5:11:28 PM

Agent

Shanti

Thank you.

5:15:05 PM

Agent

Shanti

Thank you, we are now ready to begin.

5:15:16 PM

Customer

Me

Okay.

5:15:26 PM

Agent

Shanti

Did it say you are ready to program the phone?

5:15:36 PM

Customer

Me

Did what say I am ready to program the phone?

5:15:43 PM

Customer

Me

Should I turn the phone on?

5:15:50 PM

Customer

Me

The battery was out for the last step.

5:15:56 PM

Agent

Shanti

Yes please turn the phone on.

5:16:42 PM

Customer

Me

Okay, I have turned the phone on.

5:16:53 PM

Customer

Me

It doesn't say anything special.

5:18:17 PM

Agent

Shanti

Enter #########

5:18:52 PM

Agent

Shanti

The last # entered will not show on the display. The Service Programming screen will be displayed, highlighted on View

5:19:12 PM

Agent

Shanti

Scroll down to Edit and press OK. Enter MDN will be displayed

5:19:21 PM

Customer

Me

I typed that, but the last # does show up, and no other screen is popping up.

5:19:24 PM

Customer

Me

Let me try again.

5:19:31 PM

Agent

Shanti

No, that is ok.

5:19:36 PM

Agent

Shanti

It says that,

5:19:42 PM

Agent

Shanti

Please do not do it gain.

5:19:47 PM

Customer

Me

Okay.

5:20:17 PM

Agent

Shanti

Did you enter the MDN number?

5:20:41 PM

Customer

Me

MDN number? No. Should I enter a number?

5:20:46 PM

Customer

Me

This is the first time I have turned the phone on.

5:21:17 PM

Agent

Shanti

Have you done the first few steps, entering the previous numbers?

5:21:40 PM

Customer

Me

I entered "#########"

5:22:02 PM

Customer

Me

The first 4 steps I followed were on Sprint.com, not on the phone.

5:22:47 PM

Agent

Shanti

did you enter the MDN number?

5:23:08 PM

Customer

Me

What is the MDN number?

5:23:23 PM

Customer

Me

I entered a number into sprint.com that is the DEC device identifier.

5:23:28 PM

Customer

Me

Is this the number you mean?

5:24:07 PM

Agent

Shanti

That is on the side of the box or the back of the battery.

5:24:21 PM

Customer

Me

Yes, it is behind the battery.

5:24:32 PM

Agent

Shanti

It is on both.

5:24:40 PM

Customer

Me

Okay.

5:24:50 PM

Customer

Me

Yes, that is the number that I entered in.

5:25:27 PM

Agent

Shanti

press ok.

5:25:43 PM

Agent

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

Customer

Me

I entered that number into Sprint.com, not into the phone.

5:25:57 PM

Customer

Me

I am not on a screen that will allow me to enter that into the phone.

5:26:12 PM

Agent

Shanti

You are programming the phone, all the steps are being done to the phone now please.

5:26:28 PM

Customer

Me

That's fine.

5:26:37 PM

Customer

Me

But, where do I enter in that number on the phone?

5:27:03 PM

Agent

Shanti

In order to prevent lock up of the phone.

5:27:08 PM

Agent

Shanti

Please call Technical Support at 877 345 7895.