Fios vs. Comcast

I finally had my Verizon contract end I was able to switch back to Comcast.  Here is my score card:

TV:

Verizon has the better interface for navigating the box.  They have a better DVR system and more organization for their channels. Verizon has a much better HD picture than comcast.

Comcast allows me to hook the cable directly into my secondary TV without using a converter box.

To me this battle goes to Verizon


Internet:

Verizon claims to have a faster speed, but their internet speed was my primary gripe.  At times it seemed like I was put in a que and my request wouldn't process for 20 seconds.  Once it started working it was tolerably fast.

Comcast so far has a more consistent signal.  No slowdowns and no outages and a speed comparable to verizon.

To me this battle goes to Comcast

Customer Service:

Believe it or not, Comcast has great customer service all the sudden.  No wait times on the phone and friendly, competent people on the other end.

Battle goes to Comcast.

For now Comcast will keep my business.

Strange Phenomena

The other day Billy and I were playing at a park in Pitman when above our head we saw a really cool semi-circular cloud bow. I have seen plenty of sun dogs before but this was the first time I have ever seen a bow that arched away from the sun. That is, if you completed the semi-circle, the sun would not be at the center or even the anti-center.

Here is a far view:

Here is a close view:

Update: It turns out that this is what is known as a Circumzenithal Arc. Thanks to the good people at Atmospheric Phenomena for getting back to me with an answer as to what formed this really cool spectra in the sky.

Face Recognition Technology

I don't know what to say about this technology. Is it too good or not good enough when it presents the picture below as one of the options for me to name? This was a Christmas ornament in the background of one of my pictures.

A shrinking Gallon

Recently I was painting Billy's room and the first container of paint I bought was 1 US gallon. No big deal, this has always been the size of paint cans. I expected nothing different.

The second can of paint looked exactly the same, but as I was painting I noticed that it was actually only 3 15/16th of a gallon. I was cheated out of 1/16th of gallon of paint.

About a day later I got another container of paint and this time it was 3 7/8th of a gallon. This time I was cheated out of 2/16th of a gallon.

At this rate I will be getting droppers of paint by the time Billy is 7 years old.

Redemption

Today I received the most unbelievable call in my life. I was painting Billy's room when the phone rang and when I got it, the person on the other end was a representative from Verizon. She called to say that the person I talked to yesterday made a mistake and that I am entitled to a $150 gift card. Not only that, but she said that they would give us 3 months of HBO and Cinemax to make up for the troubles that I went through yesterday.

All I can say is WOW!!

TV Troubles

Well, here we are in July and we have still not received my $150 Visa card I was promised with my upgrade to Fios TV. Not only have we not received the $150 yet, but they charged us for installation on the first couple of bills during May and June.

Today I finally decided to call and find out what was up with the deal I was promised. After about one hour on the phone I learned that I will not get the $150 card. The person who signed me up for this service lied to me when they told me I was eligible for the $150 reward card. I already had a Verizon Double Play and switching to a Triple Play would not allow me to get the $150 gift card.

I was also informed that only the activation fee was waived, not the installation fee. So I was going to be charged $54 for them to run 5 meters of coax cable to my tv. I fought this because they used my EXISTING coax cable. The operator tried to call the installer to verify this. When she couldn't get a hold of the installer, she credited for the $54 installation cost.

Finally, I asked her about activating the DVR features on my HD box. She said it would cost $15.99. I asked, "one time fee". She responded, "No, each month". What planet are people on that pay these prices? I already have the hardware on the box....they want me to pay $16 a month to use it.

I am looking forward to March 19, 2010. That is the day my contract expires and I return to full over the air tv.

A quick storms rolls through Glassboro

Today a quick storm rolled through Glassboro and I was able to capture its approach on film.