MJ

When I was a kid I really liked the Guns n'Roses album, "Appetite for Destruction." So naturally, I was excited to read Slash's autobiography, "Slash." (If you want to read a review of it in the New York Review of Books, here's a link. The review is called "Appetite for Deconstruction"*)

Anyway, the headlines about Michael Jackson's death remind me of something I read in Slash's book because they suggest that Jackson may have been using the prescription drug Oxycontin.

A large part of Slash's book was devoted to his drug abuse. Heroin was his drug of choice, and he battled addiction several times. Once, during a period when he was "clean" -- which for Slash, meant he was simply a full fledged alcoholic and recreational cocaine user -- he described a trip to Vegas during which he witnessed a man crushing a pill and snorting it from a bathroom sink. The man recognized Slash and offered him one; Slash gladly accepted, and was surprised to learn that the pills were obtained legally. A few moments later, Slash began to feel the buzz and thought to himself, "Wow, they've legalized Heroin."

Later, he asked the man about the drug, and was told it was a prescription drug called Oxycontin. It wasn't long before Slash was addicted.

If you told someone you were taking heroin, there's a good chance they'd freak out. But if you told that same person you were taking Oxycontin, the reaction may not be as severe. Perhaps it should be.

*just kidding about "Appetite for Deconstruction

conversation

This is pretty close to a transcript of a phone conversation I had last week. It might be slightly off because I'm going from memory, but it is very close (and I have changed names and omitted numbers)

Rep - Thank you for calling AT&T, my name is Maria, may I please have your 10 digit phone number?

Me - Sure, it's ___-___-____

Rep - And can I have the last four digits of your social security number?

Me - ____

Rep - And your billing zip code?

Me - _____

Rep - Thank you Mr. Irani, how can I assist you today?

Me - I just got my bill and I noticed that it's $10 more than usual. I didn't go over my minutes and I have unlimited texts, so I'm just wondering why it's more this month?

Rep - Ok Mr. Irani, do you mind holding for a moment while I pull up your account?

Me - No problem.

(on hold for a minute)

Rep - Mr. Irani?

Me - Yes?

Rep - Thank you for holding. It looks like you no longer get the 22% discount on your text messaging, so the extra $10 on the bill is the discount added back plus tax.

Me - Why don't I get the discount anymore?

Rep - That discount no longer applies to text messaging.

Me - But when I signed the contract for this plan, the sales rep told me the discount would apply for everything (including text messaging), plus, i've been getting that discount for years.

Rep - I'm sorry you were told that, but the discount doesn't apply to text messaging, so the system has automatically removed it.

Me - Ok, but since it was included in terms of my contract, shouldn't I get the discount until the contract expires?

Rep - Hmm, I don't think I can do that, because it was system generated.

Me - Can you transfer me to someone who can?

Rep - Sure, I can transfer you to an escalation specialist. Do you mind holding?

Me - No problem.

Rep - Ok, I'm going to place you on hold while I get an escalation specialist.

Me - Ok.

(on hold for a minute)

Rep - Sorry about the wait, I'm trying to get an escalation specialist on the line for you, can you continue to hold?

Me - Sure

(on hold for a minute)

Rep - Hello, Mr. Irani? I've got an escalation specialist here for you.

Me - Ok, thanks for your help.

Rep - No problem, thank you for choosing AT&T.

Me - Hello?

Esc - Hello Mr. Irani, my name is Joan, how can I assist you today?

Me - Hi Joan, I got my phone bill today, and it's $10 more than usual, so I called to see if it was an error, and the customer service rep explained that it's because you no longer apply my discount towards text messaging, so I just want to get that fixed.

Esc - Yes, that's correct, and I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but we no longer offer that discount for text messaging services, it is only for the calling plan.

Me - Right, I understand. But when I signed up for the plan, your salesman told me that it would apply, so I bought two phones and signed a two year contract.

Esc - And I'm sorry for your inconvenience Mr. Irani, but that discount is not applicable to text messaging.

Me - I know, but I've been getting that discount for years, and more importantly, it was included in the terms of my contract. So I guess I just want you to give me what we agreed to. And then once my two years are up, you can get rid of the discount.

Esc - I'm sorry for the invonvinience but that was a system generated removal of your discount, so there is nothing that I can do to fix it.

Me - What do you mean?

Esc - Again, I apologize for the invonvineince, but our system automatically removed the discount, so I can't go back in and give it to you.

Me - Ok, first, you don't have to keep apologizing for the inconvenience. And second, we signed a contract, so I'm just asking you to honor the terms. You wouldn't let me out of my terms, would you? If I started paying $10 less every month, you'd probably ask that I pay the full amount since it's what we agreed to in the contract?

Esc - Yes Mr. Irani, but this is different, this was a system generated removal, so I'm afraid there's nothing I can do.

Me - ... what difference does that make? If I told you I was going to start paying $10 less per month because I ran my bill payments though an automated computer system that no longer allowed me to pay the full amount, would that make it ok?

Esc - No Mr. Irani, this is different because we no longer offer that discount for text messaging services.

Me - Ok, let's say you were looking to rent an apartment, and the leasing agent say to you, "We normally charge $1,000/month, but I'll rent you this unit for $900/month if you sign a two-year lease." So you sign the lease and pay $900/month for the first six months, but then you get a letter saying that you owe $1,000/month because the $100 discount no longer applies. Wouldn't you be upset about that? Wouldn't you want the building to honor the terms of your lease?

Esc - No Mr. Irani, that is different, this was automatic system generated change becauase your discount no longer applies, so I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to change that.

Me - So you're telling me that even though we have a contract saying how much I should pay per month for phone service, you can increase that rate in the middle of the contract because your billing system does so automatically? And, you're saying that the system is automated to the extent that absolutely no one can go in and change it manually?

Esc - yes Mr. Irani. That is correct.

Me - ...

Esc - Is there anything else I can do for you today?

Me - yeah, can you at least apologize for the inconvenience?

There are times when I think I might need a haircut

This, however, was not one of those times.*

*taken 6/14/09

the dilemma

Not sure if you've heard about or read The Omnivore's Dilemma; the ideas have been around for a long time, but this book has really brought it into the mainstream (and it'll probably be summed up to some degree by this film.)

The book is split into three parts, the first part speaks out against the practices of industrial agriculture, and the second preaches the benefits of smaller low impact local farming. One major difference between industrial and local agriculture is their source of energy: industrial farming relies heavily on fossil fuel based fertilizers, whereas low impact farming relies on the sun. (Sustainability and nutritional value are two key advantages of using the sun. Yield is the key advantage of using fossil fuels.) The third part of the book goes into how to hunt/gather your own food (I wouldn't blame you for skimming this section)

The author (Michael Pollen) was speaking at a local public library a couple of weeks ago on a Monday at 6pm. I was going to try to get there around 5:45 to make sure I got a seat, but then I saw that his presentation was going to be in the library's auditorium, so I took my time getting there. When I got to the library at 5:55, there was a line of at least 100 people waiting outside. I asked a library employee when they would start letting people in, and she responded by saying that the auditorium was already full, and the people in line were just hoping that someone would come out so they could take their spot.

(needless to say, I didn't get in line)

I recommend the book. It may not change your eating habits right away, but it'll change they way you look at food.

and for an example of the omnivore's dilemma...

On the left, natural maple syrup taken from a tree that got its energy from the sun. Versus a syrup made from corn extracts that got its energy from a fossil fuel based fertilizer.

Note the price difference... there's your dilemma.

the liberal media

We were discussing the idea of a "liberal media" today

I've heard that term used, but never really understood its implications. Do people actually believe in a conspiracy within the mainstream media? Do people think that major media outlets are financed by the democratic party to advance the liberal agenda?

I do think the media tends to be liberal in many instances, however that is only because those who chose to enter the field of journalism will naturally tend to agree with socially liberal viewpoints. Someone who has made the commitment to become a journalist probably believes in the free flow of information, and is opposed to government censorship. How do you think that same person would feel about giving the government the right to decide what a woman can and can't do with her body?