Dish Network - Next on the list of bad customer service?

The screen snapshot here pretty much sums up the issue so far....

The story at this point ....

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JENN-AIR: Bad equipment, even worse customer service

I will be adding to this blog by inserting a write up from a close friend in regard to Jenn-Air products and their customer service at a later date.  I will give a bit about my own point of view on these folks as a preface.

I have a friend who is a wonderful chef and has fed me more meals than I can begin to count.  Her joy in life is cooking.  Two years ago she totally remodeled her kitchen as the focal point of their home.  Island, custom counters, built in furnishings.  The works.  No expense spared.  It was a gathering place for family and friends.

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Gun Control

Our state government in California continues to propose, pass and enact one law after another as they follow an agenda to ban firearms of any type.  Most of these proposals are never put on a ballot or voted on by the public.  New restrictions are enacted.  New taxes are implemented without representation of the residents of our state.

I wrote this in response to legislation such as Assembly Bill 187 (Bonta) imposes an additional ten percent sales tax on ammunition and Assembly Bill 760 (Dickinson) imposes a sales tax of .05 cents per ammunition component (complete cartridge, bullet or case).

In a few cases individual citizens have proposed legislation which has been placed on the ballot for the people to vote upon.  Same sex marriage.  Legalization of marijuana.   Some people use the system to take action in perhaps the only way that our elected representatives in California understand.

I am asking for somebody to write up the following concept to place on the next ballot.  This is my proposal but I have no experience in Constitutional Law and this may need a work over by somebody with that sort of expertise.  I would think that the NRA may be helpful in collecting signatures that may be necessary to make this happen.

Please read this and if you agree, please share the link on every social media application you can even if they do not live in the State of California.  It could be an example for your own state to follow.

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Skid Row Los Angeles, a URM story

A short video from the folks at www.urm.org

Firearms Problems in California - Not the obvious type

There are three gun stores on Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank.  Gun World is one of them.  The focus of this piece is on Gun World.

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Current Production 12AX7 Tubes

Click on this image for a larger image

I have been promising a current test of some of the current production 12AX7 / ECC83 offerings and have just completed my testing.

Gain and Transconductance. Some folks confuse these two things. Maybe this will help explain:

Gain is the factor by which an amplifier multiplies a signal. It is the product of the output voltage at the plate divided by the input voltage at the control grid. Gain is a unit-less factor since both measured signals are voltages. (voltage)

Transconductance is a measurement of the ability of a tube to transmit current. It is the product of the output current in amps divided by the input voltage at the control grid. Transconductance is significant in that it shows us the difference in current capability that is generated by variations in plate impedance between tubes. (Current)

When I test tubes I also measure standing plate emissions current for preamp tubes that will be used in the phase inverter position. Plate current is one factor that many tube testers do not measure.

150 tubes were tested. 15 of each type.  The above lines on each tube are the average of that particular tube.

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Los Angeles - Highest Homeless Population in the U.S.

This is the April 2013 update from Union Rescue Mission.

I have written about URM and Andy Bales their CEO since 2009.  Some of my other pieces can be found here:

http://la-economy.blogspot.com/search/label/urm and here http://la-economy.blogspot.com/search/label/homeless




You can help.

Update today 5/8/13.  I posted this on facebook:

Congratulations to the folks at Union Rescue Mission and their CEO Andy Bales and their VP Jacqui Groseth. The latest facts and figures are in from Charity Navigator, the folks that investigate and rate all the charities. URM received 4 stars out of 4 for Accountability & Transparency. A score of 67 out of 70. 

Back in 2009 I wanted to align myself with one of the homeless support organizations in Los Angeles. I spent a lot of time visiting facilities and asking questions. In the end I picked URM. Looks like I made a good call.

In the end there are many great organizations in Los Angeles but it makes me smile when I look at these independent reports and find that URM came out ahead of the two other Los Angeles missions that I also feel do great work.

I hate Jane Fonda

I just posted this as a note on facebook:  The other day Jane Fonda was on television news putting her hand prints next to her father's at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.  I was offended.  Thanks to the friend and fellow vet who sent this to me.

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Sprint - The Worst Service in Burbank and Irvine

This piece was started in 2013, the issues have continued for over five years.   For the most current problem please scroll to the bottom of this audit trail on Sprint service and support.

I have written posts on ATT in regard to their technical issues and service issues.  Over the last few years they have improved dramatically.  In the case of Sprint, things have declined.

Sprint has the worst product services AND the worst customer support when I compare ATT, T-Mobile, Verizon, Metro PCS and Sprint.  This includes technical service in regard to the performance of their product offering and customer service.

Sprint has the worst coverage in Burbank California.  Some places are not very good at best but many spots are worthless.  Sprint also has the worst customer service and problem resolution record for a single specific problem of any business I have written about here.

LTE promised in your area?  Just a warning, they cannot even make 3G work.

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Union Rescue Mission - March at a glance

Los Angeles has the highest homeless population in the United States.

Union Rescue Mission is the largest homeless facility in Los Angeles.

URM (www.urm.org to learn more) relies on people like you to help them serve the homeless.  It is an overwhelming task.  If you want to follow their CEO Andy Bales you can find him on facebook and on twitter @abales.

You can help.  Visit the URM website.  Your fully tax deductible donation in any amount will help.  There are many ways to donate or help.  They even accept Pay-Pal.  Too busy?  In less than 30 seconds you can feed five people a full meal from your cell phone.  $10 will feed five people.

To donate $10 to Union Rescue Mission, text the letters URM to 85944. You will receive a confirmation text message. Reply with the word YES to complete the transaction.  

I'd like to list a few highlights of this month that were accomplished over at URM.  They are more than just a meal, a bed, a shower, clothes, programs for recovery and change, support ...... and more.  They are ....

Total Mental Health Clinic Sessions - 143 Total Health Center Visits - 386 Total Dental Clinic Visits - Individual Patients Seen - 555 Total Legal Clinic Visits - 31 (slow month, 404 this year) Total Volunteer Hours - 4,252 (You can help in many ways) Total Meals Served - 50,900 Yes, meals in ONE month Total Nights of Shelter (per individual) - 21,307 Total Nights of Shelter (per family) - 1,725 You can help.  www.urm.org