Guitar Hero---Drum Problem

It's a shame (a real shame) that the first thing I can do after dragging myself out of bed with the flu is to write a note about Guitar Hero, ActiveVision.

We bought our daughter Guiar Hero, World Tour, for Christmas. ($200+) from EBGames in the Moorestown Mall.

Christmas morning she excitedly opens it--guess, what the drums don't work.

A Google search reveals that this is a known issue---

On Saturday, December 27th, my wife tries to return the defective item to EBGames in the Moorestown Mall, but it's not their 'policy' to accept Guitar Hero defective material (they should tell you that before you buy the junk). They give us a Toll Free Number: 1-800-205-4713.

I call the number---they've been waiting for me, as there is a dedicated number for the return of defective Guitar Hero World Tour Units.

I give them some information---they ask the for Serial number found on the Drum console. Hmmm...there is none. What does that mean?

No matter, they will accept the return, email me a postage paid label and ship me new drums when they get the old ones. By the way, if you go through this process, you may as well ship back the cymbals---an orange and yellow one---as they may be defective also. I am given three RMA numbers for the return. One for the drum console, one for the orange cymbal, and one for the yellow cymbal.

I'm told that it will take at least 24 hours to email me the package label, 3 days shipping each way. My daughter wants to know when she can start drumming.

Sunday morning, I check my email--nothing there. Perhaps the operator got my email address wrong? Perhaps my ISP has determined that it's junk mail and filtered it. I decide to wait until Monday. All of this, by the way, while coughing and hacking up huge amounts of thick, disgusting mucous. Merry Christmas.

Monday morning---no email from ActiveVision.

I call them again around 12:45.

I get the same woman (at least it sounds that way) who dealt with me before. She tells me I should expect the email sometime today.

I say wait a minute, I called on Saturday.

Oh, she says, I need to call the RMA hot line at this number. 1-310-255-2050. Then press #1.

I call, the phone rings. It tells me I have reached the Drum hot line. I press #1. This option wants to give me cheat codes for some game.

I can no longer type my responses---now I need to speak them (with a raspy voice nonetheless).

In frustration, I utter a profanity into the phone, and the automated response comes back and says "just a minute, we'll have you speak to an operator." That was at 12:50.

Every one in a while a message comes on telling me that all operators are busy, and that someone will be with me momentarily.

It is now 1PM.

1:04---I'm now speaking with a very knowledgeable person who tells me that with the weekend, it may take more than 1 to 2 business days for the email to show up.

He also seems to know about the Drum Controlller and the Wii, and he thinks the problem is probably the drum controller.

The bottom line--give it another day.

He also says that I can check this link for the status of my RMA...

http://www.activevision.custhelp.com/

However, that doesn't exists...hmmm

Let's try

http://www.activision.com/

That's close.

Turns out the actual URL is this one...

https://activision.custhelp.com/cgi-bin

In fact, here's a dedicated cutsomter site for Guitar Hero World Tour

http://redoctane.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/redoctane.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=EeDAkBmj

Fan Mail letter of the week---December 25, 2008

Just received this email...



My name is Mark and am deaf-blind. I personally wanted to tell you how much I loved to read "Learn To Program" book series and made my addictions. You are a very honest and proficent author and know our feeling comfortable about your author.

I'd like to know where I could find a "Learn To Program With HTML 4" and "Learn To Program With ASP.NET" technical/educational books.

I was a former COBOL computer programmer analyst in Information Systems at the federal government over 20 years until I left on my disability retirement in 1996. Right now I am facing to learn a conversion from IS to IT. In addition, I'm not familiar in IT, but I'd love to learn many new technologies in IT.

Could you able provide me information how did you get started to build your website from scratch? Server or Hosting? What web publishing and database software programming that you currently use? Thank you.

Kindest regards,
Mark

Fan Mail Letter of the Week--December 18, 2008

I received this email today... it's a nice example as to why I love to write books that help people.

Hi John,

Yesterday I bought your pdf version of LTP with VB.net.

I would also like to use an opportunity to thank you for everything I have learnt through your books.

I know you have heard this "zillion" times, but still...

I own all of your VB6 books which were the starting point of my learning. They gave me very, very good basis for my subsequent learning. I doubt I would be where I am today without your books.

Your teaching style is second to none, by far...

And your ability to "step into beginners shoes" is unbelievable. I don't believe you can learn this...you're blessed with a very rare talent...but you already know that ;-).

Keep up the excellent work!

Take care and I wish you and your family all the best in 2009 (and beyond).

Greetings from Slovenia,
Samo

Social Networking for Grownups: Building Your Business in the 21st Century

Social Networking for Grownups: Building Your Business in the 21st Century

This is the title of an article in the Winter 2009 edition of Girlfriendz Magazine

www.girlfriendzmag.com

Sorry, there is no link to it, but the key to the article is to use Social Networking sites, such as MySpace, Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter to build your business relationships.

No news there---I've been telling you to do that.

Twitter, in particular, I think will really help my business---for as long as they remain in business :)

Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Service Pack 6 Cumulative Update

Microsoft just posted a link for a Visual Basic 6.0 Service Pack 6 Cumulative Update---it's intended to address security issues. Here's the big link

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=CB824E35-0403-45C4-9E41-459F0EB89E36&displaylang=en

and of course, the Tinyurl link...

http://tinyurl.com/5pzffh

Facebook---Michael Smerconish again

I blogged a week ago about Michael Smerconish and his revulsion of Facebook in the Philadelphia Daily News.

I saw this response (from Sandie Rabena of Phoenixville) to his article as a Letter to the Editor in the Philadelphia Inquirer (Sunday, December 14, 2008). It's quite good...

RE: "Facebook epidemic," Michael Smerconish, last Sunday:

As a parent of children ages 21, 20 and 17, I can tell you that they think it is "SO LAME" for older adults to have a Facebook profile, and, even worse, for anyone over 30, particularly a family friend or relative, to ask to be added as a friend.

One thing I did ask my children was: When did they plan to get rid of their Facebook profiles?

A hard question, since it is their lifeline to about a zillion of their closest friends. Brows furrowed, they got very quiet, and finally, could not offer an answer. And that, perhaps, is how it will someday be OK for adults to use Facebook!

I'm 53---I remember when our generation said "Never trust anyone over 30." Then of course, we turned 30, and 40, and 50.

70-305 and 70-306 to be retired

I've heard that Microsoft exams

Exam 70-305:
Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

and

Exam 70-306:
Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

are to be retired in March of 2009---but I still don't know what is replacing them. Looks like it may be

Exam 70-563:
PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

and

Exam 70-564:
PRO: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

Here's a link to the announcement on the Microsoft Website.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/status/examstoretire.mspx