Cant get this song out of my head!

Blame Dell!

Posted at 06:04 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Cool article in WSJ:

1937 Delage D8-120 S Pourtout Aéro Coupé

This 1937 Delage D8-120 S Pourtout Aéro Coupé, owned by Sam and Emily Mann, won Best of Show at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

>

1938 Horch 853A Erdmann & Rossi Sport Cabriolet

This 1938 Horch 853A Erdmann & Rossi Sport Cabriolet, owned by Joseph and Margie Cassini, won Best of Show at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

>

1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic

This 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, owned by Peter D. Williamson, won Best of Show at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

>

1930 Mercedes-Benz SS Erdmann & Rossi Roadster

This 1930 Mercedes-Benz SS Erdmann & Rossi Roadster, owned by Arturo and Deborah Keller, won Best of Show at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

>

1937 Delahaye 135 M Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet

This 1937 Delahaye 135 M Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, owned by Jacques and Betty Harguindeguy, won Best of Show at the 2000 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Some nice wheeel, huh?

Source:
The Long Road To Pebble Beach
Elite Classic-Auto Show Cuts Number of Entries This Year; 30 Years to Restore a Wanderer
GINA CHON
WSJ, August 17, 2006; Page D1
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115577313621237788.html

Posted at 05:53 PM in Art & Design, Automobiles | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

This is astonishing:

 

 

 

The overview:

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann updated his top 10 list of occasions that the Bush Administration has gained political benefits around the same time that the public's fear of terrorism was at a peak. Olbermann describes it as "The Nexus of Politics and Terror."

In this video from last night's broadcast, Olbermann includes the latest foiled terrorist plot in Britain with the newest edition of the "Nexus of Politics and Terror Top 10 List". Olbermann concludes that if these occasions are more than just coincidences then, he says, "it underscores the need for questions to be asked in this country, questions about what is prudence and what is fear-mongering 

Posted at 05:49 AM in Politics, War/Defense | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Pat Oliphant via Yahoo!

Posted at 08:34 AM in Current Affairs, Humor, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Very cool look at a new experimental Benz:

Front view

Scissor Doors

Interior

Posted at 05:21 AM in Automobiles, Design | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Nice aggregator of several different services:  POPUrls

Digg, del.icio.us, reddit, flickr, newsvine, metafilter, tailrank, youtube, Google News, Yahoo News, netscape, iFilm, shoutwire, slashdot, wired, odeo, fark, nowpublic, furl, heavy, videosift, etc.

Posted at 04:39 PM in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Neil Young:

"I tried to let someone else protest this war, but I could only wait until I was 60."

"I hate this stinkin' War"

 

 

CNN Interview:

Posted at 05:53 AM in Music, Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Fun WSJ article on how to haggle:

Most people don't think twice about bargaining when it comes to something big, like a new car or home. But getting a price cut on smaller things -- cable bills, doctors' fees, electronics goods -- can be surprisingly easy: Just ask.

That goes against the grain for millions of Americans. Maybe our ancestors haggled at the dry-goods store. But today's big-box supermarkets, laser price scanners and uniformed checkout personnel present a barrier.

The good news is, in many situations, it's getting easier to ask for, and get, a price break. Increasingly, retailers and others are empowering rank-and-file employees to give discounts. At hotels, for example, most desk clerks can give 10% to 25% off the advertised rate, whereas a few years ago that might have required a discussion with the manager, says Rick Doble, a discount-advice writer and accomplished haggler.

From personal experience, I can tell you that is  true. And I no longer book travel or hotel without asking -- there usually is some promotion going on:

Pick your store, and your moment. Try small boutiques and family-owned businesses. Look for somebody who seems knowledgeable and comfortable in their job, not the high-school student who started last week. Go in when the store isn't busy -- a harried staffer has less time or inclination to negotiate.

Ease into it. Chat with the salesperson, and ask a lot about prices, so they can see that is a concern. Ask if they take an American Automobile Association discount, or a local discount card, even if you know they don't. After a few leading questions, it's possible a shopkeeper will simply volunteer 10% off.

Offer to pay in cash. Credit-card companies take 2% to 3% of the price in fees out of the merchant's pocket. At some stores, nicely asking whether you get a break for paying in cash can quickly get you 5% or 10% off -- more than the credit-card fees.

Make it easy for them to pull it off: Ask if it's possible for you to ride on the coattails of a "friends and family" discount, or employee discount.

Call your phone company, ISP and cable providers and say you're thinking about switching. Often, you'll immediately get transferred to the company's "retention" desk, where the staff is prepped with special offers designed to retain wavering customers.

Finally, assume there is a promotion going on. Mr. Doble, author of the book "Savvy Discounts," says he never checks into a hotel before asking, "Don't you have a special at this time of year?" Much of the time, the answer is "yes," he says. And after he has finished cutting a deal, he asks for an upgrade. And free breakfast.

Good stuff . . .

>

Source:
How Do You Get a Break in the Price Of Practically Anything? Easy, Just Ask
By SARAH MCBRIDE
August 19, 2006; Page B1
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115593351893439692.html

Posted at 08:55 AM in Shopping | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

From this week's Barron's, comes the latest bit of fiscal dishonesty from the White House: 

"THIS SPACE DOESN'T USUALLY INDULGE in advice to the ailing. But we feel compelled by a revelation that came to light last week to do so, even though we lack even the most rudimentary medical training. (If it helps our credibility any here, we might note we're a faithful reader of the New England Journal of Medicine; the pictures aren't much, but some of the text -- at least that part of it we can understand; we can't speak for the rest -- is unfailingly informative.)

Enough of disclaimers. Let's get to the heart of the matter. Our advice is simple: Don't get sick in the last nine of the days of Uncle Sam's fiscal year; and if you're already sick, for gosh sakes, don't get sicker. Especially if you happen to be a geezer, or have the bad luck to be disabled.

This exhortation is not based on any new medical research or even quack notion, and it has absolutely nothing to do with any seasonal blips in the incidence of disease. Instead -- and here's the beauty of it -- it springs from cold, hard logic, derived from last week's disclosure of some smarmy accounting sleight of hand that the Bush administration plans to indulge in so as to make Medicare's deficit look better this waning fiscal year. Just the kind of manipulation, incidentally, that under Sarbanes-Oxley can land a slippery CEO or chief financial officer in the pokey.

The bureaucratic brainstorm was straightforward -- simple-minded is, perhaps, a more appropriate description -- don't pay doctors, hospitals and their army of auxiliaries tending to indisposed old folks and the afflicted disabled for their labors in the last nine days of the current fiscal year. Instead, send them a check for what you owe them, sometime after the first of October, the start of the government's fiscal '07. In essence, those doctors, hospitals et al. are making an involuntary loan of nine days' pay without interest.

That way, point out the gleeful budgeteers and Medicare pooh-bahs, all of whom presumably are glowing with health, Uncle Sam's Medicare tab this fading fiscal year will be $5.2 billion less than it otherwise would have been. Or at least would seem to be $5.2 billion less -- in Washington, as we all know, appearance and reality are not invariably the same phenomena.

Of course, this oh-so-clever stratagem would mean that next fiscal year's Medicare bill will be $5.2 billion more than it would have been. But, not to worry, those indefatigable financial watchdogs in the Office of Management and Budget and their henchmen in the uppermost reaches of Medicare are on the case. And we have every confidence that next year they'll make up for any untoward increases in costs by ceasing to send checks to doctors, hospitals et al. in August or even July, if necessary.

It's never too early for the prudent sickie to begin to prepare for the worst and do everything in his or her power not to allow his or her condition to grow worse toward the end of the fiscal year. Get used to waiting until the start of the new fiscal year before letting it all hang out.

For it ineluctably follows that the doctors and their cohorts might feel some inhibiting hesitation about putting in an often onerous day's work for the promise of payment later. In the circumstances, who can blame them if they decide en masse to shut down their offices for the summer? And wasn't it the president, himself, after all, on an earlier occasion, who pointed out that government IOUs are just pieces of paper?

We have a modest counterproposal: Why not hold up the paychecks of the people in the upper echelons of the Medicare bureaucracy and at the Office of Management and Budget until the $5.2 billion target is reached? It might take more than a year or two. But, hey, they're dedicated public servants, so we're sure they wouldn't mind lending the government money for such a good cause. And, no matter how long it took, they'd be paid in full -- but fair's fair, without interest."

Astounding . . .

Source:
The Medicare Scam
UP AND DOWN WALL STREET 
ALAN ABELSON
Barron's MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006   
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB115654804252746089.html

Posted at 06:59 AM in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The ubiquitous RAZR takes some snaps, and a short video of the concert:

Opening tune: Flags of Freedom (Neil Young)

Next 2 songs: Carry On / Wooden Ships:

After the Garden is Gone/Living with War

Jones Beach Theater -- about 10,000 seats, outdoors on the water -- a terrific place to se a concert:

Video clip: Rocking in the Free World
(Play, but the sound is awful --- hard to bewlieve this was shot with a cell phone)

First set:

Flags of Freedom (Young, 2006)
Carry On (CSNY, 1970)
Wooden Ships (CSN, 1969)
Long Time Gone (CSN, 1969)
Military Madness (Nash, 1971)
After the Garden (Young, 2006),
Living with War (Young, 2006)
The Restless Consumer (Young, 2006)
Shock and Awe (Young, 2006)
Wounded World (Stills, 2005)
Almost Cut My Hair (CSNY 1970)
Immigration Man (C&N, 1972)
Families (Young, 2006)
Deja Vu (CSNY, 1970)

Acoustic set

Helplessly Hoping (CSN, 1969)
Our House (CSNY, 1970)
Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Young, 1970)
Guinnevere (CSN, 1969)
Milky Way Tonight (C&N, 2004)
Treetop Flyer (Stills, 1991)
Roger and Out (Young, 2006)
Southbound Train (C&N, 1972)
Old Man Trouble (Stills, 2005)
Carry Me (C&N, 1975)
Teach Your Children (CSNY, 1970)
Southern Cross (CSN, 1982)
Find the Cost of Freedom (CSNY, 1971)

Third Act

Let's Impeach the President (Young, 2006)
For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield featuring Stills and Young, 1967)
Chicago (Nash, 1971)
Ohio (CSNY, 1970)
What Are Their Names (Crosby, 1971)
Rocking in the Free World (Young, 1989)

Posted at 03:26 PM in Music | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Fun:

       

Posted at 05:25 AM in Film, Music | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

We mentioned this list before, and now there is a web site dedicated to fighting thru the nightmare of phonetrees:  Gethuman 

The site gets 20k hits per day, but was overwhelmed when they ggot a SquawkBox mention; Get Human also has a nice collection of customer service tips.

Here's the specifics of getting out of phone tree hell:

us automotive back to top	phone	get human customer service
AAA	800‑222‑4357	Press 0 repeatedly after initial intro.
Alamo	800‑462‑5266	Direct to human.
Allstate Road Service	800‑869‑7997	Direct to human.
Avis	800‑230‑4898	Press2.
BMW USA	800‑831‑1117	Say "customer relations" and then press 1 for "vehicle" or 2 for "motorcycle."
Budget Rent a Car	800‑527‑0700	Press 0.
Buick	800‑521‑7300	Press 0 0.
Cadillac	800‑333‑4223	Press 0.
Chase Auto Loans	800‑346‑9670	Press 1 2 *0.
Chevrolet	800‑222‑1020	Press 0 at each prompt.
Chrysler	800‑992‑1997	Press 0 at each prompt.
Chrysler Financial	800‑700‑0738	Select Language, press 0 several times.
DaimlerChrysler	800‑992‑1997	After initial intro press 6, then press 2 1 * * at subsequent prompts.
Dodge	800‑992‑1997	Press 0 at each prompt.
Dollar Rent‑A‑Car	800‑800‑4000	Press 0.
Ford	800‑392‑3673	TBD
Ford Interest Advantage	800‑462‑2614	Press # repeatedly.
Ford Motor Credit	800‑727‑7000	Press # repeatedly at each prompt.
GMAC	800‑200‑4622	Press # repeatedly at each prompt.
GMC	800‑462‑8782	Press 0 at each prompt.
Hertz	800‑654‑3131	Direct to human.
Honda	800‑999‑1009	TBD
Honda Financial Svcs.	800‑445‑1358	Press # repeatedly.
Jeep	800‑992‑1997	Press 0 at each prompt.
Lincoln Mercury	800‑521‑4140	Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages.
National Car Rental	800‑227‑7368	Select type of travel.  Direct to human.
Nissan Credit (NMAC)	800‑888‑2799	Press * several times after welcome intro.
Nissan USA	800‑647‑7261	Press #.
Saturn	800 553‑6000	Press 3.
Thrifty Car Rental	800‑331‑9111	Press # at each prompt.
Toyota	800‑331‑4331	Press 6 and remain on the line.
Toyota Financial Svcs.	800‑874‑8822	Select Language option; press # repeatedly.
Volkswagen	800‑822‑8987	Press 3 2.
VW USA	800‑822‑8987	Press 3 after initial intro; press 2 to decline survey.
us credit back to top	phone	get human customer service
Amazon Visa	888‑247‑4080	Press 0 0. Ignore invalid account message.
American Express	800‑528‑4800	Press 0 repeatedly.
American Express Bus. Gold	800‑678‑0745	Press 0 at each prompt.
American Express Business	800‑492‑3344	Press 0# at each prompt.
American Express VIP Subscriptions	800‑321‑6247	Press 0 at each prompt.
AT&T Universal Card	800‑423‑4343	Don't press or say anything.
Bank Card Svcs.	800‑655‑1491	Press 0 repeatedly.
Bank of America Credit Card	800‑732‑9194	Press 00 at each prompt.
Best Buy Card	800‑365‑0292	Press 00* at each prompt, ingnoring recording.
Bloomingdales Credit	800‑295‑4057	Direct to human.
Capital One	800‑548‑4593	Press 0.
Chase	800‑945‑2000	Don't press or say anything.
Chase Credit Online	800‑625‑5161	Direct to human. For online issues only.
ChevronTexaco	800‑243‑8766	Press 0 repeatedly.
Circuit City Visa	888‑363‑8001	Press 0 repeatedly.
Citi Cards	800‑633‑7367	Don't press or say anything, ignoring prompts.
Citi Simplicity	866‑696‑5673	Press 0 0.
Dell Financial Services	800‑283‑2210	Press 0 0 ##.
Diner's Club	800‑729‑5309	Press 2.
Discover	800‑347‑2683	Press ****.
Exxon Mobil Card	800‑344‑4355	Press 000, ignoring message.
Gap Credit Card	800‑887‑1198	Press 000 at each prompt; ignore request for account number.
GM MasterCard	800‑947‑1000	Press 0 at each prompt.
Home Depot Credit	800 677‑0232	Press *****.
Household Bank Credit Card	800‑771‑7339	Press 0 at each prompt.
JC Penny Credit	800‑542‑0800	Press 0 at each prompt.
Juniper Bank	877‑523‑0478	Press 0000, at each prompt.
Kohls Credit	800‑564‑5740	Press #.
Marshall Fields Credit Card	800‑280‑4356	Press 9 0.
MasterCard	800‑622‑7747	Press 000 at each prompt.
MBNA	800‑421‑2110	Say "customer service" at each prompt.
PayPal Buyer Credit	866‑571‑3012	Be silent and press 6 at the end of prompts.
Providian Card Svcs.	800‑356‑0011	Press 0# at each prompt.
RBS Credit Card	800‑747‑8155	Press 0 at each prompt.
Sam's Club Credit	800‑203‑5764	Press 1 # # 6.
Sears Credit Card	800‑917‑7700	Press 0000000; press 0 at subsequent prompts.
Shell Gasoline Card	800‑490‑9119	Press 0 when prompted for an account number.
SUNOCO	800‑278‑6626	Press 0 five times, then mumble when prompted for an account number.
Telecheck	800‑710‑9898	Press 1, 3, * at prompts.
US Bank Visa	800‑285‑8585	Say "operator" at each prompt.
Visa	800‑847‑2911	Press 000; ignoring invalid entry messages.
Wal‑Mart Credit Card	866‑888‑3868	Don't press or say anything.
Wells Fargo Visa and Master Card	800‑642‑4720	Press 0# at each prompt.
us finance back to top	phone	get human customer service
AAA Financial	800‑523‑7666	Press 0 at each prompt. Ingnore invalid response.
ABN AMRO Mortgage	800‑783‑8900	Press ##0.
Allmerica Financial	800‑533‑7881	Press 0 0 at each prompt.
Ameriquest	888‑436‑7571	Don't press or say anything.
Ameritrade	800‑669‑3900	Press 3 3 0.
Bank of America	800‑432‑1000	Press 00 at each prompt.
Bank of New York	800‑225‑5269	Press ###.
Charles Schwab	800‑435‑9050	Press 3, then 0.
Chase Home Finance	800‑848‑9136	Press #0 #0 #0.
Citibank	800‑756‑7047	Press 0# 0# 0# 0# 0# 0#.
Citizens Bank	800‑922‑9999	Press 000.
Columbia Mutual Funds	800‑345‑6611	Say "representative."
Commerce Bank	888‑751‑9000	Direct to human.
Compass Bank	800‑239‑5175	Press 00 at each prompt.
Countrywide Loans	800‑669‑5864	Press 0 repeatedly.
Dodge and Cox	800‑621‑3979	Press 0.
e*Trade	800‑786‑2575	Press ####.
Electrolux Financial	800‑388‑1826	Direct to human.
Equifax	866‑640‑2273	Press 3 0.
Experian	800‑493‑1058	TBD
Fidelity	800‑544‑6666	Ignore prompt for social security number; press ###.
First National Bank of Omaha	888‑530‑3626	Press 0 at each prompt.
Free Credit Report.com	8774816825	Press 5 1.
GE Finance CareCredit	866‑893‑7864	Press #####.
GE MONEY BANK	8773175544	Press 1, then don't press or say anything.
GMAC Mortgage	800‑766‑4622	Press 0 at each prompt.
HSBC	800‑477‑6000	Press 1 3 0.
ING Direct	800‑464‑3473	Direct to human.
John Hancock	800‑732‑5543	TBD
JP Morgan Chase	800‑392‑5749	Press 1 3 1.
Mellon Investor	800‑522‑6645	Press #.
Merrill Lynch	800‑637‑7455	Say "Advisor".
MetLife Bank	866‑226‑5638	Press 000 rapidly and repeatedly.
Moneygram	800‑926‑9400	Press 0.
NY Life Retirement Svcs.	800‑586‑1413	Press 0 repeatedly, ignoring messages.
PNC Bank	888‑762‑2265	Press * repeatedly.
Primerica Financial Services	800‑544‑5445	Press 0 three times.
Principal Financial	800‑547‑7754	Press ###. Ignore prompt for social security number.
Prudential Annuity	888‑778‑2888	Press ** at each prompt.
Prudential Financial	800‑778‑3932	Hold for human.
Sallie Mae	888‑272‑5543	Press 00 at each prompt.
Smith Barney Benefitaccess	888‑822‑6067	Press 0.
Sovereign Bank	877‑768‑2265	Don't press or say anything.
State Farm Bank	877‑734‑2265	Say "operator" at each prompt.
Student Loan Corp.	800‑967‑2400	Press 5.
Student Loan People	888‑250‑6401	Press 0 repeatedly.
SunTrust	800‑786‑8787	Press # rapidly and repeatedly.
T. Rowe Price	800‑922‑9945	Say "operator" at each prompt.
TD Waterhouse	800‑934‑4448	Press # #.
TIAA‑CREF	800‑842‑2733	Don't press or say anything.
TransUnion	800‑916‑8800	Press 2 at each prompt.
Upromise	888‑434‑9111	Press 0.
US Bank	800‑872‑2657	Press 0 at each prompt.
USAA Investment Mgmt	800‑531‑8448	Press 0# at each prompt.
Vanguard Funds	800‑662‑2739	Press 0.
Wachovia	800‑922‑4684	Press 00 at each prompt.
Washington Mutual	800‑788‑7000	Press 0 at each prompt.
Wells Fargo	800‑869‑3557	Press 0 at each prompt.
Western Union	800.634.1311	Press *  # #.
us government back to top	phone	get human customer service
US Citizenship and Immigration	800‑375‑5283	Select language, press 4 0.
US Dept. of Edu ‑ Financial Aid	800‑433‑3243	Select language then press * 0.
US Dept. of Edu ‑ Loans	800‑848‑0979	Don't press or say anything.
US Dept. of State ‑ Passports	877‑487‑2778	Select language and then press 1 0.
US Dept. of Transportation	800‑832‑5660	Press 000.
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs	800‑827‑1000	Press 1 0.
US FBI	202‑324‑3000	TBD
US Federal Trade Commission	877‑382‑4357	Press 4 5 0 at each prompt.
US Geological Survey	888‑275‑8747	Press 0#.
US Homeland Security ‑ FEMA	800‑621‑3362	Select language. Press  0 0.
US IRS	800‑829‑1040	Don't press or say anything.
US Mint	800‑872‑6468	Press 0.
US Postal Service	800‑275‑8777	Press 5 at each prompt.
US Social Security Admin	800‑772‑1213	Press 1 for language, Press 0 at each prompt (ignoring messages) until SS# is requested.  Enter SS#.
White House	202‑456‑1414	Direct to human.
us hardware back to top	phone	get human customer service
Apple	800‑275‑2273	Press 0 at each prompt.
Belkin Tech Support	800‑223‑5546	At prompt, enter ext. 2263; at next prompt, press 1 2.
Brother International	800‑284‑4329	Press 7.
Compaq	800‑652‑6672	Say "I don't know"  and "operator" repeatedly.
Dell Sales	800‑624‑9897	Press 0 at each prompt.
Dell Tecnical Support	800‑624‑9896	Say "Technical Support," "Yes," then "agent" at each additional prompt, ignoring messages.
Epson	800‑533‑3731	Direct to human.
Fujitsu PC Support	800‑385‑4878	Press 0 0.
Gateway Computers	800‑846‑2000	Press 4, say "no" at each additional prompt.
Hewlett‑Packard	800‑474‑6836	Say "agent" at each prompt.
IBM	800‑426‑4968	Direct to human.
Linksys	800‑326‑7114	Select language; wait through message; at menu press ###.
Palm	800‑881‑7256	When prompted, press 1, then 2, then 2.
PC World	800‑234‑2498	When prompted for an account number, press *, then 2.
People PC	800‑736‑7537	Press 0 at each prompt.
Toshiba	800‑457‑7777	Press 0 at each prompt.
Xerox	800‑822‑2979	Press 0.
us insurance back to top	phone	get human customer service
AARP Healthcare	800‑523‑5800	Press 1 4.
AARP Medicare Part D	888‑867‑5575	Press 0.
Aetna	800‑738‑7674	Say "member"; Press *0.
AFLAC	800‑992‑3522	Press # # # 3.
AIG	877‑638‑4244	Direct to human.
Allstate	800‑255‑7828	Press * repeatedly.
Anthem Blue Cross	800‑280‑7293	Press * at each prompt.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield	877‑526‑3425	Say "get associate" at prompt.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid	800‑999‑1118	Press 1,0,0,0 in rapid succession.
Ceridian Benefit Svcs.	800‑877‑7994	Press 0 repeatedly.
CIGNA	800‑849‑9000	Press ##.
Delta Dental	888‑335‑8227	After language option, press 2 for existing or 3 for new account.
Farmer's Group, Inc.	800‑435‑7764	Do not press or say anything.  Hold through menu twice.
GEICO	800‑841‑3000	Press 6 1 5.
Humana Medicare Claims	800‑457‑4708	Press **00*.
Liberty Mutual (Claims)	800‑225‑2467	Press 1 0.
Medco	800‑251‑7690	Press 0000.
Medicare	800‑633‑4227	Say "agent."
MetLife	800‑560‑5001	Press ####.
Nationwide Insurance Claims	800‑421‑3535	Press 0 at each prompt.
Northwestern Mutual	414‑271‑1444
NY Life Benefit Services	800‑294‑3575	Press 0.
Principal Life	800‑247‑4695	Press 1 2 0 0 0 0.
Progressive Insurance	800‑776‑4737	Press 0 0 0.
Secure Horizons	800‑228‑2144	Say "perspective member".
State Farm Auto Insurance	877‑734‑2265
United Health Care	800‑585‑6586	Select type.  Say "Representative" three times.
USAA	800‑531‑6095	Press 000#.
us internet back to top	phone	get human customer service
1‑800‑FLOWERS.COM	800‑716‑4851	Direct to human.
Amazon.com	800‑201‑7575	Don't press or say anything. See also.
America Online	800‑827‑6364	Don't press or say anything.
AT&T Worldnet	800‑400‑1447	Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages.
Barnes & Noble.com	800‑843‑2665	Choose language; hold.
Bellsouth FastAccess DSL	888‑321‑2375	Press 1 1 1 1 2 at prompts, ignoring messages.
Blockbuster Online	866‑692‑2789	Press 1 1.
Buy.com	877‑780‑2464	Direct to human.
CompuServe	800‑848‑8990	Press 1211 without waiting for the prompts.
Costco.com	800‑955‑2292	Press 5 5.
Earthlink	888‑327‑8454	Press 1. Press 0 at each prompt.
eBay	800‑322‑9266	Press 0 0. See also.
GoDaddy.com	480‑505‑8899	Don't press or say anything.
Google	650‑623‑4000	Press 0 during business hours.
Google Ads	866‑2GOOGLE	Press 2, 2.
Hughesnet (formerly Direcway)	866‑347‑3292	Press 2 3 4.
Juno	888‑839‑5866	Press # at each prompt, ignoring messages.
MSN	800‑386‑5550	Say "agent", ignoring prompts, until asked if you want a representative; then say "yes."
Napster	800‑839‑4210	Press 3 3 at first prompt, then 2 at next prompt.
NetFlix	888‑638‑3549	Press 0.
Netscape	866 541 8233	Press 0 0 0.
NetZero	866‑841‑1442	Press # # #, then 3 2.
Overstock.com	800‑843‑2446	Press 0 0 0 0.
PayPal	888‑221‑1161	Direct to human. See also.
SBC DSL support	877‑722‑3755	Say "sales".
Target	800 591‑3869	Press 1; don't press or say anything, ignoring prompts.
Ubid.com	800‑317‑7995	Hold for representative.
Verizon DSL	800‑567‑6789	Say "Real person" at each prompt, ignoring instructions.
Wal‑Mart.com	800‑966‑6546	Press ***.
Yahoo	408‑349‑1572	Pres 0 repeatedly, ignoring error messages.
us mobile back to top	phone	get human customer service
Alltel Wireless	877‑397‑9244	Direct to human.
Cellular One	888‑910‑9191	Press 4.
Cingular Warranty Department	800‑801‑1101	Press 0 at each prompt.
Cingular Wireless	800‑331‑0500	Press 0 at each prompt.
Metro PCS	888‑863‑8768	Press #43.
Motorola	800‑331‑6456	Press 00 at first prompt.
Nextel	800‑639‑6111	Press 00000.
Simple Freedom	800‑335‑6401	Press #0#0.
Sony Ericsson Mobile	866‑766‑9374	Select language. Direct to human.
Sprint / Nextel	866‑273‑2163	Direct to human.
Sprint / Nextel ‑ Business Accounts	877‑812‑1223	Direct to human.
SunCom	800‑786‑7378	Press 0 repeatedly.
T‑Mobile	800‑937‑8997	Say "Operator" when prompted for mobile number.
T‑Mobile Tech Support	877‑369‑4588	Direct to human.
Tracfone	800‑323‑2366	Direct to human
U.S. Cellular	888‑944‑9400	Press 0.
Verizon Wireless	800‑922‑0204	Press 0 at each prompt.
Virgin Mobile	888‑322‑1122	At prompts say "English", "More Options", "Ask a Question", "Live Advisor", "Something Else", then enter mobile # or say "I don't have one."
us pharmacy back to top	phone	get human customer service
AARP MedicareRxPlan	888‑867‑5575	Press 7 for spanish, then 0.
AARP Pharmacy	800‑289‑8849	Press 7 for spanish, then 0.
Aetna Rx Home Delivery	800‑227‑5720	Press 0 at prompt.
Caremark	800‑262‑7890	Press 0.
CVS.com	888‑607‑4287	Press 0.
Drugstore.com	800‑378‑4786	Press 2 5.
Eckerd	800‑325‑3737	Press 0 for pharmacy or 8* for manager.
Express Scripts ‑ TriCare	800‑206‑4005	Press 0.
Humana	800‑448‑6262	Say "Member," "pharmacy," "Prescription Benefits"; Then give invalid ID.
MEDCO	800‑987‑5269	Say "representative" after each message.
Omron Healthcare	877‑216‑1333	Don't press or say anything.
Rite Aid	800‑748‑3243	Don't press or say anything.
Walgreens	877‑250‑5823	Direct to human.
us products back to top	phone	get human customer service
All Brand Svc. (Maytag)	800‑462‑9824	Press 0 0.
Anheuser‑Busch	800‑342‑5283	Direct to human.
Baby Bjorn	866‑424‑0200	Press 2.
BMG Music	317‑692‑9200	Press #.
Bosch Power Tools	877‑267‑2499	Press 1 0 0.
Bose	800‑444‑2673	Direct to human.
Briggs & Stratton	414‑259‑5262	Press 0 at prompt.
Canon USA	800‑828‑4040	Press * 0.
Casio	800‑706‑2534	Press 3.
Columbia House DVD	812‑466‑8402	Ask to speak with a DVD Customer Service Operator.
Dirt Devil	800‑321‑1134	Press # # #.
Eddie Bauer	800‑426‑8020	Press 1.
Entertainment Weekly	866‑228‑1183	Say "agent."  Say "yes."
Eureka Vacuum	800‑438‑7352	Press 1 7 .
Evenflo	800‑233‑5921	TBD
Fischer‑Price	800‑432‑5437	Don't press or say anything.
Frigidaire/Electrolux Parts	800‑599‑7569	Press 3.
FTD	800‑736‑3383	Press 2.
GE Appliances	800‑626‑2005	Press 0 0 0.
Glucerna	800‑986‑8501	Hold for agent.
Graco	800‑345‑4109	Press 0.
Harriett Carter Gifts	800‑377‑7878	Press 0.
Hitachi	800‑448‑2244	Press 0 at each prompt.
Holmes	800‑284‑3267	Direct to human.
Honeywell	800‑468‑1502	Press 1 1 9 0 0.
Hoover	800‑944‑9202	Press 5 2.
Jenny Craig	800‑597‑5366	TBD
John Deere	800‑537‑8233	Press 1 4.
JVC America	800‑252‑5722	Press 3.
Kensington Tech Support	800‑535‑4242	Press 1 1.
KitchenAid	800‑422‑1230	Press 3 4 2.
Kodak	800‑235‑6325	Press #.
Kodak Gallery (Ofoto)	800‑360‑9098	Say "agent."
Kolcraft	800‑453‑7673	TBD
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging	800‑285‑6422	Press 0.
LA Weight Loss	800‑331‑4035	TBD
Lands End	800‑743‑9706	Direct to human.
Magnavox	800‑705‑2000	Select language. Say "agent."
Major League Baseball	866‑800‑1275	Press 0 0.
Maytag	800‑688‑9900	Press 0 0.
McAfee	888‑847‑8766	Press # 4 0.
Memorex Electronics	800‑919‑3647	Press 3 3 3.
Nautilus (Bowflex)	800‑628‑8458	Press 3 2 4.
Netgear	888‑638‑4327	Press 4 1.
New York Times	800‑698‑4637	Press 5 0 0.
Nike	800‑806‑6453	Press 0 0 0.
Nikon Service	800‑645‑6687	Press 6 4.
Nokia	888‑665‑4228	Press 1.
NutriSystem	800‑435‑4490	Press 5.
Panasonic	800‑211‑7262	Press 0 0 0.
PETCO	888‑824‑7257	Don't press or say anything.
Philips Electronics	888‑744‑5477	After speaking your language preference, say "agent" twice.
Pitney Bowes	800‑932‑3631	Press 0 say "agent" twice and press #.
Playstation	800‑345‑7669	Press 0.
ProActive Solutions	800‑661‑7761	Press 0.
RCA / Thompson Electronics	877‑794‑7977	Press 2.
RCN	800‑746‑4726	Press 1 2 2 1.
Reader's Digest	800‑304‑2807	Press 0.
Samsung	800‑726‑7864	Press 2 1 3 3.
Sealy	800‑697‑3259	Don't press or say anything.
Sharp	800‑237‑4277	Press 1 1 3 2.
Sony	800‑222‑7669	Say "agent" twice then press 1 1.
Sony Games	800‑345‑7669	Press 0.
Sports Illustrated	800‑284‑8800	Press # # # ignoring invalid entry response.
Teleflora	800‑835‑3356	Press 2.
Texas Instruments (TI)	800‑842‑2737	Press 0 # and hold.
Time Magazine	866‑731‑5401	Press # # # #, ignoring invalid entry messages.
TV Guide	800‑866‑1400	Say "customer service" two times.
Wall Street Journal	800‑568‑7625	TBD
Washington Post	800‑627‑1150	Don't press or say anything.
Whirlpool	800‑253‑1301	Press 4 2 1.
Xbox	800‑469‑9269	Press 0 0 0 0.
XM Radio	800‑967‑2346	Press 0 and then say "customer service."
us shipping back to top	phone	get human customer service
DHL	800‑225‑5345	Press 1 5 0; enter your phone number.
Fed Ex	800‑463‑3339	Say "agent" at each prompt.
Union Pacific	800‑877‑5123	Press #.
UPS	800‑742‑5877	Press 0 at each prompt.
UPS (International)	800‑782‑7892	Say "Agent" at prompt.
Yellow Transportation	800‑610‑6500	Press 0 0.
us software back to top	phone	get human customer service
Adobe Systems	800‑833‑6687	Press 1 for Adobe, 2 for MacroMedia, 3 for both.
Computer Associates	877‑694‑8509	Press 2.
Intuit	800‑811‑8766	Don't press or say anything.
Microsoft	800‑936‑5700	Press 0.
QuickBooks	888‑729‑1996	Press 0.
Symantec	800‑441‑7234	At prompts, press 00, 00, 3.
us stores back to top	phone	get human customer service
Advance Auto Parts	800‑314‑4243	Press 0.
Best Buy	888‑237‑8289	Press 1, 2; don't enter phone number.
BJ's Wholesale Club	800‑257‑2582	Press 0#.
Circuit City	800‑843‑2489	Press 0.
CompUSA erebates	888‑716‑8555	Press ** to bypass greeting.
Costco	800‑220‑6000	Press 5 5.
Dillard's	800‑345‑5273	Direct to human.
Disney Shopping	800‑328‑0368	Direct to human.
Home Depot	800‑793‑3768	Press ###.
Home Shopping Net	800‑284‑3100	Press 0.
Ikea	800‑434‑4532	Press 0 quickly and repeatedly.
JC Penney Catalog	800‑222‑6161	Press 0 several times.
Kmart	866‑562‑7848	TBD
LL Bean	800‑441‑5713	Direct to human.
Lowe's	800‑445‑6937	Press 0.
Macy's	800‑289‑6229	Press 4, then *# at prompts.
Office Depot	888‑463‑3768	Don't press or say anything.
Office Max	800‑283‑7674	Press 2.
Poland Spring	800‑950‑9396	Say "representative" at each prompt, ignoring requests for other information.
QVC	800‑367‑9444	Press 0.
Radio Shack	800‑843‑7422	Press 0 0.
Rent‑A‑Center	800‑422‑8186	Press 1.
Sam's Club	800‑964‑1917	Press 0 at each prompt.
Sears	800‑469‑4663	Press 0 three times.
Sears Delivery	800‑732‑7747	Press 9 5 1 1 1.
Staples	800‑333‑3330	Don't press or say anything.
Staples Easy Rebates	877‑266‑6483	Wait for "main menu" then press 0 * *.
Starbucks Coffee	800‑782‑7282	Press 0.
Target	800 591‑3869	Press 2; don't press or say anything, ignoring prompts.
The Company Store	800‑285‑3696	Press 0.
Wal‑Mart	800‑925‑6278	Press 1 4 3 3.
Williams‑Sonoma	877‑812‑6235	Don't press or say anything.
us telco back to top	phone	get human customer service
AT&T	800‑288‑2747	Select language. Press 0 0 0 0.
BellSouth	877‑678‑2355	Press *0 at each prompt, ignoring message.
Comcast	800‑266‑2278	Press 000.
MCI	888‑624‑5622	Press 2 at each prompt.
Qwest	800‑244‑1111	Press 1; say "operator" at all subsequent prompts.
SBC (Now AT&T)	800‑310‑2355	Say "Representative" at each prompt, ignoring requests for other information.
Sprint	800‑658‑7564	Direct to human.
Sprint Broadband Direct	888‑996‑0001	Press 0 0.
Sprint PCS	866‑273‑2163	Direct to human.
Verizon (home phone)	800‑870‑9999	Don't press or say anything.
Verizon (land line)	800‑483‑3000	Don't press or say anything.
Verizon Billing	888‑780‑3964	After prompted to give your telephone number, say "Operator." Repeat if necessary.
Verizon Business	888‑649‑9500	Say representative at each prompt.
Verizon Fios	888‑553‑1555	Say "No," "Operator," "Yes," "Operator," "Yes.'
Verizon Fraud	888‑483‑7200	Direct to human.
Verizon Repair	800‑275‑2355	Direct to human at times, otherwise press 00.
Vonage	888‑250‑1799	Direct to human.
us travel back to top	phone	get human customer service
Air Canada	888‑247‑2262	Press 1 0 0 0.
AirTran Airlines	800‑204‑5695	Press 0.
Alaska Airlines	800‑252‑7522	Press #.
Alitalia	800‑223‑5730	Press *.
Allegiant Air	800‑432‑3810	Press 1 at prompt.
American Airliines	800‑433‑7300	Press 0 at each prompt.
American Airlines Baggage	800‑535‑5225	Press 7.
Amtrak	877‑444‑4773	Direct to human.
British Airways	800‑247‑9297	Press 5 2.
Carnival Cruise	800‑929‑6400	Press 0, 0.
Celebrity Cruises	800‑647‑2251	Press 0.
Cheap Tickets	800‑755‑4333	Don't press or say anything, ignoring prompts, until you are offered customer service.  Then say "Yes."
Cheaptrips.com	800‑211‑5119	Press 1.
Continental Airlines	800‑784‑4444	Press 0 0.
Delta Air Lines	800‑221‑1212	Press 0 0 0.
Disney Cruise Line	800‑951‑3532	Press 0 0 0.
Disneyland Resort	714‑781‑4000	Direct to human
Expedia.com	800‑397‑3342	Press # # #.
Four Points by Sheraton	888‑625‑5144	Press 1 7.
Greyhound	800‑231‑2222	Press 2 6.
Hilton HHonors	800‑548‑8690	Press # repeatedly, ignore invalid key messages.
Holiday Inn	800‑465‑4329	Press 0 0.
Hotels.com	8003468357	Press 0 at each prompt.
Hotwire	866‑468‑9473	Press # a few times.
Hyatt Corporation	888‑591‑1234	Direct to human.
Jet Blue	800‑538‑2583	Press 0.
Kayak.com	203‑899‑3120	Press 0.
Le Meridien	888‑625‑5144	Press 1 3.
Lufthansa	800‑399‑5838	Direct to human.
Luxury Collection Hotels	888‑625‑5144	Press 1 5.
Mariott Rewards	800‑321‑7396	Press 0.
Midwest Airlines	800‑452‑2022	Press * several times at each prompt.
Northwest Airlines	800‑225‑2525	Press 3 1.
Northwest Airlines WorldPerks	800‑447‑3757	Press 1 1 0.
Orbitz	888‑656‑4546	Press # # # # #.
Priceline	800‑678‑1929	Press 1 even if you don't have an itinerary number.
Qantas	800‑227‑4500	Press 3 2.
Ramada	800‑828‑6644	Direct to human.
Sheraton Hotels	888‑625‑5144	Press 1 2.
Song/Delta Airlines	800‑359‑7664	Press # # #.
Southwest	800‑435‑9792	Direct to human.
Spirit Air	800‑772‑7117	Press 0 0.
St. Regis Hotels	888‑625‑5144
Trans Air Airlines	800‑247‑8726	Press 0 at each prompt.
Travelocity	888‑872‑8356	Press # repeatedly. Ignore invalid response.
United	800‑864‑8331	Say "Agent" then "Domestic" or "International" as appropriate.
Universal Studios Hollywood	800‑864‑8377	Press 4.
US Airways	800‑428‑4322	Press 4 1.
Virgin Atlantic	800 821 5438	Press 0 at each prompt.
W Hotels	888‑625‑5144	Press 1 6.
Walt Disney World	407‑824‑2222	Direct to human.
Walt Disney World/Magic Kingdom	407‑824‑4521	Direct to human.
Westin Hotels	888‑625‑5144	Press 1 1.
us tv/satellite back to top	phone	get human customer service
Adelphia	888‑683‑1000	Press * at each prompt.
Cablevision	800‑868‑9840	Press 1. Then press 0 at each subsequent prompt.
Charter Communications	866‑472‑2200	Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring invalid response messages.
Comcast	800‑945‑2288	Press * at each prompt. Ignore invalid response.
DirecTV	800‑824‑9081	Direct to human.
DISH network	800‑333‑3474	Press 0 at each prompt.
Sirius	888 539‑7474	Press 1 0.
TiVo	877‑367‑8486	Say "Live Agent."

Posted at 03:57 PM in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

I meant to get to this after the announcement became official last week:  GM will make a new version -- retro of course -- of the Camaro. It will be built in Canada.

Camaro fans can thank Ford's updated and hot selling retro Mustang for the production green light. Like the Mustang, the base version will be a 6 cylinder engine, with a high output V8 as an option. In the past, GM has used a detuned LT1 Vette engine in the Z28 Camaros, an I would expect a similar set of choices this time also.

The big question will be how true to the concept car the actual prodcution vehicle will be:

Sources:
Official photos: 2009 Chevrolet Camaro Concept
By Mark Gillies
http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/naias_2006/0601_chevrolet_camaro_concept/

GM revives Chevrolet Camaro muscle car
AP, Friday August 11, 2006
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/8/11/apworld/20060811090222&sec=apworld

Posted at 05:31 AM in Automobiles, Design | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBack

Too true:

Tom Toles via Yahoo!

Posted at 11:28 AM in Current A