Thursday, August 24, 2006

More bells & Whistles

Fun:

       

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

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

gethuman database

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

<p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p>gethuman database</p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p> 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

GM revives Chevrolet Camaro muscle car

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:

7748


0602_naias_z2009_chevrolet_camaro_concep

0602_naias_z2009_chevrolet_camaro_concep_1









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 (16) | TrackBack

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Snakes on a Plane

Too true:

Stt060822gif



Tom Toles via Yahoo!

Posted at 11:28 AM in Current Affairs, Film, Humor, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

50 Greatest Sidekicks of All Time

Via Entertainment Weekly, comes this fun but flawed list of notable sidekicks, couch sitters, and syncophants.

I don't recall seeing a list quite like this anywhere else.

Of course, the list has some problems: We can argue about Jay and Silent Bob being down at 39 -- but that's really an issue of preference. The bigger offense is putting former Conan O'Brien sidekick Andy Richter at # 18, while David Letterman's present sidekick Paul Shaffer is sucking wind at 37. 

There are some truly egregious errors:

The typical Human foible of over-emphasizing recent data is given prominence here. The Office sidekick Dwight at no. 10 way way ahead of the Barneys -- Fife and Rubble at 19 and 34?

Are you shitting me?

Then there's the simply ignorant pairing of Keith Richards as a "sidekick" to Mick Jagger? I guess those songs and their classic guitar riffs must write themselves; (Hey, they're called the Glimmer Twins for a reason). One would think the buffoons at an Entertainment magazine might know that. If Keith is a sidekick to Mick, then is Jimmy Page a sidekick to Robert Plant? How about Peter Townsend as Roger Daltry's sidekick?  I didn't think so either.

Also beyond my comprehension: The inexplicable inclusion of Andrew Ridgeley as Sidekick to George Michael; It can only be explained by an editorial directive demanding more usage of the "who really gives a fuck" file. Otherwise, I can't explain it.

There are some notable omissions: A few missing pairings:

Spock - Capt. Kirk
Bud Abbot / Lou Costello
Hobbes & Calvin
Alfalfa and Spanky
Sonny Crockett / Ricardo Tubbs

Aside from these minor quibbles, the idea is fun and the execution is only half bad. Anyway, most of the list is pretty fun.

Here are the 50 Greatest Sidekicks of All Time

1. Ed McMahon
Sidekick to: Johnny Carson

2. Robin
Sidekick to: Batman

3. George Costanza
Sidekick to: Jerry Seinfeld

4. Chewbacca
Sidekick to: Han Solo

5. Ethel Mertz
Sidekick to: Lucy Ricardo

6. Dr. Watson
Sidekick to: Sherlock Holmes

7. Samwise Gamgee
Sidekick to: Frodo Baggins

8. Ed Norton
Sidekick to: Ralph Kramden

9. Tattoo
Sidekick to: Mr. Roarke

10. Dwight Schrute
Sidekick to: Michael Scott

11. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger
Sidekicks to: Harry Potter

12. Donkey
Sidekick to: Shrek

13. Robin Quivers
Sidekick to: Howard Stern

14. Sancho Panza
Sidekick to: Don Quixote de la Mancha

15. Andrew Ridgeley
Sidekick to: George Michael

16. Waylon Smithers
Sidekick to: C. Montgomery Burns

17. Willow Rosenberg
Sidekick to: Buffy Summers

18. Andy Richter
Sidekick to: Conan O'Brien

19. Bernard P. Fife
Sidekick to: Andy Taylor

20. Turtle
Sidekick to: Vincent Chase

21. Gromit
Sidekick to: Wallace

22. Pedro Sanchez
Sidekick to: Napoleon Dynamite

23. Rhoda Morgenstern
Sidekick to: Mary Richards

24. Goose
Sidekick to: Pete ''Maverick'' Mitchell

25. Art Garfunkel
Sidekick to: Paul Simon

26. The Supremes
Sidekicks to: Diana Ross

27. Hank Kingsley
Sidekick to: Larry Sanders

28. Falstaff
Sidekick to: Prince Hal (1 Henry IV and 2 Henry IV)

29. Walter Sobchak
Sidekick to: Jeffrey ''The Dude'' Lebowski

30. Keith Richards
Sidekick to: Mick Jagger

31. Garth Algar
Sidekick to: Wayne Campbell

32. John Oates
Sidekick to: Daryl Hall

33. Leonard ''Lenny'' Kosnowski and Andrew ''Squiggy'' Squiggmann
Sidekicks to: Laverne de Fazio and Shirley Feeney

34. Barney Rubble
Sidekick to: Fred Flintstone

35. Flo
Sidekick to: Alice

36. Ford Prefect
Sidekick to: Arthur Dent

37. Paul Shaffer
Sidekick to: David Letterman

38. Lane Kim
Sidekick to: Rory Gilmore

39. Silent Bob
Sidekick to: Jay

40. Larry Dallas
Sidekick to: Jack Tripper

41. Piglet
Sidekick to: Winnie-the-Pooh

42. Jeff Green
Sidekick to: Larry David

43. Jimmy Olsen
Sidekick to: Clark Kent/Superman

44. Duckie
Sidekick to: Andie

45. Igor
Sidekick to: Dr. Frankenstein

46. Bender
Sidekick to: Fry

47. Sallah
Sidekick to: Indiana Jones

48. Fred ''Rerun'' Stubbs
Sidekick to:  Roger ''Raj'' Thomas

49. Randy Hickey
Sidekick to: Earl J. Hickey

50. Joseph ''Blue'' Pulaski
Sidekick to: The guys of Lambda Epsilon Omega




Source:
The 50 greatest sidekicks of all time
Entertainment Weekly, SUNDAY, August 20, 2006
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1213384_1_0_,00.html

Posted at 06:58 AM in Film, Humor, Television | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Monday, August 21, 2006

MSM

Amusing

Mainstream_media

Posted at 04:14 PM in Humor, Media | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Wise up

The very great and under-rated Aimee Mann


Posted at 07:12 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, August 20, 2006

$50 iMac

Pretty crazy, considering:

50_d_mac





Surplus Computers via Deal Taker

Posted at 02:08 PM in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Antiques: Automobiles

In the booming car-collecting market, the stately Packards and Bugattis of the 1920s and '30s that were once the sector's core continue to be overshadowed by the high-powered muscle cars of the 1960s. Baby boomers who wished they could have afforded Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs when they were in high school are now bidding up the value of these ever-rarer cars at auction. Next weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance car show and surrounding auctions in and around Monterey, Calif., are considered reliable predictors of the market's strength and trends. Below, three models that collectors will be closely watching, with their auctioneers' estimates.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Estimate: $300,000-$400,000

[image]

RM Auctions Inc. is one of several companies holding antique car sales during the Concours weekend. It will feature this rare version of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. Designed with racing in mind, the 1963 Z06 came with an extra-large fuel tank, so it could go farther between pit stops, and had large high-performance brakes.

1911 Simplex
Estimate: $600,000-$800,000

[image]

During the Concours, auction house Gooding & Co. will display cars from the collection of the late Otis Chandler -- publisher of the Los Angeles Times from 1960 to 1980 and a well-known collector and driver -- before auctioning them in October. Included is a 1911 Simplex, a high performance model for its time with a top speed of about 80 miles an hour.

1958 Ferrari 412 S
Estimate: $7.5 million-$9.5 million

[image]

Racing cars have gained favor with collectors in recent years, especially those with a notable and well documented competition history. RM plans to auction this car, which was driven by racers like Phil Hill and Richie Ginther. The auction company says it expects this model to surpass its record-breaking sale of the Le Mans-winning 1962 Ferrari Testa Rossa 330 TRI/LM that sold in 2002 for $6.5 million.

Source:
Antiques: Automobiles
Picks:
The models collectors will be watching at next weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Jonathan Welsh
August 12, 2006; Page P2
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115532940596033592.html
 

Posted at 03:08 PM in Automobiles | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Neil Young: After The Garden

Neil Rocks! 

Posted at 05:50 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

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