50+ Tricks to Get to a Real Person

Posted onAuthornetjeff1 Comment

To get a live person when calling a support number, I use tricks like pressing zero even if it's not given as a choice, or doing nothing to make the system think that I don't have touch tone phone.

50+ Hacks and Tips to Get to a Real Person at Any Corporation in 10 Seconds or Less has some clever ones I've never thought of before, like:

  • Choose the Spanish option, which often has a shorter wait time, and you'll probably be connected with a bilingual person.
  • Press everything. By pressing multiple numbers, you can trick systems into thinking you're on a rotary phone or that you're crazy. Either way, you're in.

The article also has links to some good resources, like 800-numbers.net and Gethuman.com.

Baggage scanner toy

Posted onAuthornetjeffLeave a comment

Beat the Christmas rush and order your Scan-It toy x-ray machine (via Amazon) early.

ScanIt box ScanIt close-up

Said one Amazon reviewer:

If you're a parent, then you've probably been struggling with how to teach your kids about how much fun it is to have your rights systematically stripped from you. […] Kids can become familiar with the process of search and arbitrary seizure of dangerous items like toothpaste, soda, and aftershave (or TSA). The attention to detail on this toy is great. Notice the Homeland Security Threat Level Advisory glued to the side. See how tiny green and blue are? You'll never need them, because we live in an orange world. That's right, the terrists are right around the corner, maybe under your bed! This will keep a constant, low-level feeling of fear instilled in your kids, just like DHS wants!

(via Woot)

Lunar eclipse

Posted onAuthornetjeffLeave a comment

Although there are usually one or two full lunar eclipses a year, it's been a while since I've seen one. Things like clouds, or maybe it occurs really late/early are the usual reasons I've missed them.

But on Wednesday Feb 20, there was a full lunar eclipse and this time I got to see it. I also pulled out my camera and tripod and got this picture.

Feb 2008 Lunar Eclipse

Even with a decent digital SLR (Pentax *ist DS) it was tough to get a good picture. I had to shoot in RAW mode, then work on the exposure in Photoshop for the above result to match what I was seeing with the naked eye.