I've decided that my big goal for 2009 will be to read more and more books. This is very difficult if you are already following a Universersity study, but I shall succeed. For the first half of 2009 I will read at least the following books...
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Godenslaap by Erwin Mortier
Netherland by Joseph O'Neill
De Generaal met zes vingers by Yasmine Allas
woensdag 31 december 2008
zondag 31 augustus 2008
The same as it ever was...
Sometimes I worry about myself. I am a hypocondriac, neurotic, and a little distubed, but those are all topics that could easily be held for another blogging session. Today I am going to discuss my recent decision in education.
I have gone an enrolled myself into the Hogeschool Rotterdam (Rotterdam University) to learn to become an English Teacher.
What the fuck was I thinking. I am not good with children, and I am pretty damn sure that I do not have the patience to actually sit down and honestly be a critically good teacher.
Maybe this was the beginning of the next phase of my life, the midlife crises that begins at 25 and ends at 50.
I have gone an enrolled myself into the Hogeschool Rotterdam (Rotterdam University) to learn to become an English Teacher.
What the fuck was I thinking. I am not good with children, and I am pretty damn sure that I do not have the patience to actually sit down and honestly be a critically good teacher.
Maybe this was the beginning of the next phase of my life, the midlife crises that begins at 25 and ends at 50.
maandag 25 augustus 2008
Steve Jobs, I am pissed off at you...
As it has been so vocally made in the past, I have recently purchased an imac, which now, only 16 days after recieving it, is broken!!!
Steven, I am very disappointed in you. :(
And because in Europe there is no customer serice in the EU, I have to wait for a fucking technician to come, after I call a 1-900 number that costs 15cent a minute!!!
Steven, I am very disappointed in you. :(
And because in Europe there is no customer serice in the EU, I have to wait for a fucking technician to come, after I call a 1-900 number that costs 15cent a minute!!!
dinsdag 5 augustus 2008
My dilema
As many of you know, I have two modes of transport. The first is my trusty Vespa LXS, and the second is my bicycle. Unfortunately, my bicycle, which was about 20 years old has finally bitten the dust and must now be replaced.
One would most certainly think that of all the countries in the world, Holland would be the easiest to buy a bike in. But that could be farther from the case. I think that this is due in part to your bike saying so much about you, and you needing a bike that matches your personal needs.
I've decided for a Batavus (a Dutch bicycle manufacturer who is relatively cheap). By relatively cheap, I mean 700$ for a bike.
One would most certainly think that of all the countries in the world, Holland would be the easiest to buy a bike in. But that could be farther from the case. I think that this is due in part to your bike saying so much about you, and you needing a bike that matches your personal needs.
I've decided for a Batavus (a Dutch bicycle manufacturer who is relatively cheap). By relatively cheap, I mean 700$ for a bike.
woensdag 30 juli 2008
I settle down into August
August is always a grim month for me. It is the month when millions of Europeans flock to vacation, leaving myself stranded at some job, which is understaffed for a good six to eight weeks.
The heat will start soon. Today it is 27 and humid, tomorrow it will be 30.0. The thing that frustrates me the most, is my inability to think or be concentrated. This blog entry takes minutes just to conjure up an explanation of my daily activities.
August is such a shitty month.
The heat will start soon. Today it is 27 and humid, tomorrow it will be 30.0. The thing that frustrates me the most, is my inability to think or be concentrated. This blog entry takes minutes just to conjure up an explanation of my daily activities.
August is such a shitty month.
dinsdag 29 juli 2008
Dear Sirs:
It was many years ago that a friend Natalie told me that writing letters to people is an effective way to bitch. I am not sure if this is true, but that sliver of knowledge has changed the way that I communicate. Now, I will write a letter to a whole slue of companies to get the change that I desire (now I sound like Obama).
Thus, I have written the following letter to Apple...
To give you, my dear reader, some insight. I have purchased an imac recently. On the website, they said that the computer would be ready in 8 days. When Apple Nederland means "ready", they mean, and I quote the customer service representative from Apple "It has been finished being manufactured at the factory. It takes another 8 to 10 days after that to get your computer."
***
Apple Sales International
Hollyhill Industrial Estate
Hollyhill, Cork
Republic of Ireland
July 29, 2008, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Dear Sirs:
I am writing you over my severe disappointment in the logistics, order administration and the website of the Apple online Store. I feel that Apple is deliberately misleading their customers, and that this is a very unprofessional and unethical way of doing business.
I purchased an i-mac (24” 3,06GHz) on July 26, 2008. It was purchased off the apple store Netherlands website (order number is xxxxxxxxxx). When we purchased the computer, your website and the confirmation stated that the computer would be “verzendklaar” or ready to ship in 8 days.
It was not until after we had ordered, paid, and waited three days, that we received an automated email telling us that we should expect our computer in 15 plus working days. At first I was under the impression that this was due to some irregularity and that Apple was just informing us of delay. It was not until I called the customer service number that I learned that this is normal protocol for all Apple orders. We were told by the Apple customer service representative that if we “properly read” what was on the internet, that it was only eight days until the computer was finished being manufactured, and that does not include even shipping the computer to the Netherlands. He stated that it still required another week to be shipped from the point of production, go through customs, be unpacked and repacked by customs, and to get to our front door. I doubt that many of the consumers in a country where it takes one day for a normally stamped letter to arrive would agree.
To me, this appears to be a very dishonest way of advertising. It would be like ordering a pair of shoes off of the internet where the manufacturer states that the shoes are ready to ship in 1 day, and by that they mean that it takes one day for the product to be manufactured, but it takes another 10 days to ship it to Europe. Thankfully, when other companies do business on the internet, they have chosen the route of being clear and giving as much information in regards to logistics to the customer as possible.
The part of this ordeal that is the most disappointing to me is that this really tarnishes the Apple name. I have always felt that Apple represents innovation and a stellar product. But now I am so disappointed with the way Apple conducts business and I feel that it may be time to move to the competitor.
I will be forwarding this letter to the Apple headquarters in the US and also consumer advocacy groups and programs in the Netherlands. I hope that there will be some resolve for this issue. I hope that Apple will choose to be completely honest to its customers in all aspects of its consumer business, including disclosing complete and clear product and purchase information.
Sincerely,
-David G. Marler, JR.
sent 29 July 2008
Thus, I have written the following letter to Apple...
To give you, my dear reader, some insight. I have purchased an imac recently. On the website, they said that the computer would be ready in 8 days. When Apple Nederland means "ready", they mean, and I quote the customer service representative from Apple "It has been finished being manufactured at the factory. It takes another 8 to 10 days after that to get your computer."
Apple Sales International
Hollyhill Industrial Estate
Hollyhill, Cork
Republic of Ireland
July 29, 2008, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Dear Sirs:
I am writing you over my severe disappointment in the logistics, order administration and the website of the Apple online Store. I feel that Apple is deliberately misleading their customers, and that this is a very unprofessional and unethical way of doing business.
I purchased an i-mac (24” 3,06GHz) on July 26, 2008. It was purchased off the apple store Netherlands website (order number is xxxxxxxxxx). When we purchased the computer, your website and the confirmation stated that the computer would be “verzendklaar” or ready to ship in 8 days.
It was not until after we had ordered, paid, and waited three days, that we received an automated email telling us that we should expect our computer in 15 plus working days. At first I was under the impression that this was due to some irregularity and that Apple was just informing us of delay. It was not until I called the customer service number that I learned that this is normal protocol for all Apple orders. We were told by the Apple customer service representative that if we “properly read” what was on the internet, that it was only eight days until the computer was finished being manufactured, and that does not include even shipping the computer to the Netherlands. He stated that it still required another week to be shipped from the point of production, go through customs, be unpacked and repacked by customs, and to get to our front door. I doubt that many of the consumers in a country where it takes one day for a normally stamped letter to arrive would agree.
To me, this appears to be a very dishonest way of advertising. It would be like ordering a pair of shoes off of the internet where the manufacturer states that the shoes are ready to ship in 1 day, and by that they mean that it takes one day for the product to be manufactured, but it takes another 10 days to ship it to Europe. Thankfully, when other companies do business on the internet, they have chosen the route of being clear and giving as much information in regards to logistics to the customer as possible.
The part of this ordeal that is the most disappointing to me is that this really tarnishes the Apple name. I have always felt that Apple represents innovation and a stellar product. But now I am so disappointed with the way Apple conducts business and I feel that it may be time to move to the competitor.
I will be forwarding this letter to the Apple headquarters in the US and also consumer advocacy groups and programs in the Netherlands. I hope that there will be some resolve for this issue. I hope that Apple will choose to be completely honest to its customers in all aspects of its consumer business, including disclosing complete and clear product and purchase information.
Sincerely,
-David G. Marler, JR.
sent 29 July 2008
maandag 28 juli 2008
What to do?
I am writing you to voice my concern and amazement over a piece of mail I received a few weeks ago from the US Government. It started back in May when I received a letter from the IRS stating that the Bush Administration, with the help of the US Congress had passed through an initiative to revamp our dull and droopy economy. It would come in the form of a $300 check for every tax payer, and would allow us spend money and put some much needed oxygen into our blood.
The letter promised to send out a check right after they got to the bottom of who deserved and who was not deserving of this economic advantage program. Like lots of other mail that is deemed not to be pertinent to myself, this letter made its way right into the waste bin. I am in Holland, so of course it was recycled.
Months passed and spring turned to summer, and out of the middle of nowhere, I got a piece of stunning, shocking and joy-giving mail. It was a technicolored check with Lady Liberty labeled "Economic Stimulus Package 2008." I was amazed. Who would have thought that someone who had not paid US taxes since 2006, who had only lived in the US a few months in 2006, and who had barely paid a few hundred dollars taxes in 2006 would ever be qualified for such a gift.
After the five minutes of excitement that anyone would have when receiving a 300$ check for nothing, I realized that this type of spending is indicative of a faulty and most importantly costly bureaucracy.
How am I supposed to stimulate the American economy? What can I buy to make things better in the US? An I-phone? A ford (or a keychain to a ford)?
The letter promised to send out a check right after they got to the bottom of who deserved and who was not deserving of this economic advantage program. Like lots of other mail that is deemed not to be pertinent to myself, this letter made its way right into the waste bin. I am in Holland, so of course it was recycled.
Months passed and spring turned to summer, and out of the middle of nowhere, I got a piece of stunning, shocking and joy-giving mail. It was a technicolored check with Lady Liberty labeled "Economic Stimulus Package 2008." I was amazed. Who would have thought that someone who had not paid US taxes since 2006, who had only lived in the US a few months in 2006, and who had barely paid a few hundred dollars taxes in 2006 would ever be qualified for such a gift.
After the five minutes of excitement that anyone would have when receiving a 300$ check for nothing, I realized that this type of spending is indicative of a faulty and most importantly costly bureaucracy.
How am I supposed to stimulate the American economy? What can I buy to make things better in the US? An I-phone? A ford (or a keychain to a ford)?
vrijdag 25 juli 2008
I remember Spain.
My vaccation to Spain was perfect. The two weeks that I had were void of all ofice work, drab conversation and bland food.
I would wake up sometimes at noon, go to the beach and not begin my day until 5 pm. I would drink beer in the afternoon and eat paëlla in the evening.
I always get depressed when I come home.
I would wake up sometimes at noon, go to the beach and not begin my day until 5 pm. I would drink beer in the afternoon and eat paëlla in the evening.
I always get depressed when I come home.
dinsdag 1 juli 2008
Sitting at work and thinking of Spain...
Work has never been one of my so called fortés. I've never been a fan of it, and it, I'm sure, has never thought of me as one of it's loyal believers. However, I am a slave to the machine, and need to buy buy buy! Thus, I work.
The last few days have been extremely testing. I sit here at my dest, look over at my collegues that are ever so hard slaving away at their computers, and all I can do is sigh, and open up my internet explorer.
This is not to say that I don't work hard. Because I do. It's more that I cannot bare the idea now, three days before I go on vaccation to the Costa Blanca of Spain, slaving away at my desk, while the sun is shining outside, to work and find that drive that "the business needs."
The last few days have been extremely testing. I sit here at my dest, look over at my collegues that are ever so hard slaving away at their computers, and all I can do is sigh, and open up my internet explorer.
This is not to say that I don't work hard. Because I do. It's more that I cannot bare the idea now, three days before I go on vaccation to the Costa Blanca of Spain, slaving away at my desk, while the sun is shining outside, to work and find that drive that "the business needs."
maandag 30 juni 2008
Oh dear it has been a while...
I am affraid that I have lost all of my readers by now. So I guess that that means that it is time for me to reinvent this blog.
So much has changed. Well I guess not much has changed, but that appeared to be the most appropriate thing to say at this time.
So much has changed. Well I guess not much has changed, but that appeared to be the most appropriate thing to say at this time.
***
A few months ago, I was watching a documentary on Nederland 2 about how the internet has turned into a self-centered egotistic place where people who have very uniteteresting lives obsess and write about themselves. For me, this is one hunderd procent true.
Several months ago I would not be able to continplate pulling myself away from the blogosphere. I became a member of the highly successful and critically aclaimed dieta estúpida which won absolutly no awards.
I later fell into the slump of regular life, becoming involved in organizing shit etc.
woensdag 16 januari 2008
Home Sweet Home...
I am very excited to go back to Missouri for two weeks in February. It has been nearly two years since I have been to the promissed land and I can think of nothing more breathtaking than two weeks in pure white trash paradise.
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