Friday, February 8, 2013

In a try to taste the real USA I decided we should go to a hockey game. We chose one based on proximity (Cow Palace) more than teams' values criteria so we went to see San Francisco Bulls vs. Las Vegas Wranglers. No comment on the hockey quality as I'm not a regular hockey watcher; it ended 5-0 for Las Vegas, and that's all you gonna get in terms of sport in this post :)

There are however some other interesting things:

The aftermath


The tickets were about 85$ for one adult one kid. The arena was really empty (probably about 200 people, see the pics) still, annoyingly, they didn't let you move in the better viewing, otherwise empty, areas.

The regular parking was 10$ behind a hill from which a you had to do a 5 minutes walking to the arena. Apparently it's common knowledge that Daly City is a dangerous neighbourhood; as a result everybody parked in the "preferred parking plot" next to the arena, for 15$ (5$ more).

We payed pretty high prices for everything inside and we didn't buy ourselves fan stuff (as in hats, t-shirts, etc). If I remember right: 4 sausages on buns 34$, pop-corn + 2 churos 8$, 2 hot chocolate about 15$.

The vendors


Despite the big number of food kiosks in the circular hall surrounding the arena there were lots of mobile vendors inside the arena itself, and they were really keen on selling something right during the game.
I don't know how much enthusiasm was amongst the fans in the seats, but I can surely tell you that the main source of noise were those vendors regularly passing on the aisles shouting as powerful as they could, their bloody merchandise.
To my contentment, as far as I've noticed, nobody bought anything from them :)

The advertising hydra


As not much of the game can be seen directly due to the wooden fences surrounding the ice, there is a big television cube right above the centre of the rink, provisioned with 4 large screens one for each side of the arena. Normally on that screen, you see live game broadcast when the game is not stopped and ads, ads, ads when it is stopped. Using this shiny tool they can do advertising at its best, i.e. the "you-suckers-must-buy-something-now" type.
They had loads of strategies to make you look there and swallow an ad, like:

They threw in ads, during the game even if the puck was on the ice, catching the eyes of those that were watching the screens as they couldn't see the god damn small thingy in that moment.

Even if you prefer to look at the ice during the game, when one team scores, the instinct makes you look at the screen to see the replay, especially because hockey is really fast but also because you want to enjoy again the glorious moment. Surprise: you swallow an ad instead and no replay at all, not even if you obediently watch the whole ad length.

At one time they displayed on the screen "Show your teeth!" and then they started to show live images from the public. Strangely enough everyone that was caught on camera did show their teeth as a well tamed pack. I found it quite infantile...
Nevertheless, after 3-4 people showing their teeth, a new ad struck, this time on a well prepared crowd: an ad to a dentist practise!  

Even the ice polishing machines had ads on them!



At one point of time, during the game, I have noticed a lady holding a microphone in her hand advancing to a vip area next to the ice, followed by 4 other ladies. They all took a sit on some armchairs (you can see them in the second picture, the beige ones) and nothing more happened as long as the puck was on the ice. Then, at one break, the microphone lady appeared on screen and said that four ladies from the public had their seats upgraded by the X furniture company. Then she conducted a mini interview with those ladies, asking them how they feel to be upgraded and being very careful to mention the X furniture company at each sentence possible, like: "How do you feel now that you have been upgraded by X furniture - furniture for your life ?" Kind of lame, but see below for even more lame stuff with the same lady.

All in all, maybe I'm wrong, but I got the distinct feeling that the game on ice was actually dictated by the advertising on that screen. I have noticed several times the referee ready to throw the puck into the game but lingering a bit more to allow the current ad to finish the message :) I wouldn't be surprised if these poor guys have this in their job description now.

The American style


Probably the most embarrassing moments happened during the breaks when the microphone lady presented over the 4 big screens a trimmed down version of Blind date, that game with one guy that cannot see 3 ladies and he's trying to pick one based on her answers to some questions.
Now, let aside that the ladies were well overdue for being picked (unless you really prefer hen to chicken, I mean :) the whole endeavour was extremely lame and the only effect it had was that, after this event, those ladies probably started using Prosac or increased the dosage if already on it.

The reason is that, as said, there were not many people in the arena for this event and even less were in their seats during the break, most being out for some food or drinks. This had impacted the "mini show" in two ways: on one hand any "smart" answer from the ladies had little echo in the arena; maybe they expected applause or at least some confirming laughs but what they got instead was that type of embarrassing silence moments instead...

The only exception to this silence was a pretty large group of people wearing hoods, (probably from the neighbourhood - pun intended) that had their own list of questions they wanted to ask those ladies. I couldn't understand all they said but, I understood enough to get the point that they are some happy RedTube fans, like me.

So, the second impact of the the empty arena and of the fact that this group of hoodies, by chance or misfortune, were about 30 meters away from the blind date stage setup, was the fact that the ladies heard clearly all the "unofficial questions". Judging their faces, they probably realized they shouldn't have exposed like this but it was too late for them and the crucifixion went on :)

A final aspect that links this chapter with the "advertising hydra" one: they modified the rules of "Blind date", as such, the guy allegedly looking for a partner was actually debilitated and his decision didn't matter at all.
What mattered was the public decision on whom to pick, that should have been expressed by text messages, probably at surcharged SMS rates.

The conclusion


Will I do it again? No.
The main reason would be that you can see the actual play much better on tv, with all those replays and many cameras that allow you to see the puck on both sides of the ice rink.

Then, the overall feeling was that the whole setup is just a trap and I was just a target of as much advertising as possible, and some overpriced junk food.
I'm pretty sure that this feeling would get even more powerful in a more important game, with higher ranked teams and more at steak, so I don't believe that better teams would mean better experience.

Next stop: a basketball match.

A hockey match

Posted on by Downshifter with No comments
In a try to taste the real USA I decided we should go to a hockey game. We chose one based on proximity (Cow Palace) more than teams' values criteria so we went to see San Francisco Bulls vs. Las Vegas Wranglers. No comment on the hockey quality as I'm not a regular hockey watcher; it ended 5-0 for Las Vegas, and that's all you gonna get in terms of sport in this post :)

There are however some other interesting things:

The aftermath


The tickets were about 85$ for one adult one kid. The arena was really empty (probably about 200 people, see the pics) still, annoyingly, they didn't let you move in the better viewing, otherwise empty, areas.

The regular parking was 10$ behind a hill from which a you had to do a 5 minutes walking to the arena. Apparently it's common knowledge that Daly City is a dangerous neighbourhood; as a result everybody parked in the "preferred parking plot" next to the arena, for 15$ (5$ more).

We payed pretty high prices for everything inside and we didn't buy ourselves fan stuff (as in hats, t-shirts, etc). If I remember right: 4 sausages on buns 34$, pop-corn + 2 churos 8$, 2 hot chocolate about 15$.

The vendors


Despite the big number of food kiosks in the circular hall surrounding the arena there were lots of mobile vendors inside the arena itself, and they were really keen on selling something right during the game.
I don't know how much enthusiasm was amongst the fans in the seats, but I can surely tell you that the main source of noise were those vendors regularly passing on the aisles shouting as powerful as they could, their bloody merchandise.
To my contentment, as far as I've noticed, nobody bought anything from them :)

The advertising hydra


As not much of the game can be seen directly due to the wooden fences surrounding the ice, there is a big television cube right above the centre of the rink, provisioned with 4 large screens one for each side of the arena. Normally on that screen, you see live game broadcast when the game is not stopped and ads, ads, ads when it is stopped. Using this shiny tool they can do advertising at its best, i.e. the "you-suckers-must-buy-something-now" type.
They had loads of strategies to make you look there and swallow an ad, like:

They threw in ads, during the game even if the puck was on the ice, catching the eyes of those that were watching the screens as they couldn't see the god damn small thingy in that moment.

Even if you prefer to look at the ice during the game, when one team scores, the instinct makes you look at the screen to see the replay, especially because hockey is really fast but also because you want to enjoy again the glorious moment. Surprise: you swallow an ad instead and no replay at all, not even if you obediently watch the whole ad length.

At one time they displayed on the screen "Show your teeth!" and then they started to show live images from the public. Strangely enough everyone that was caught on camera did show their teeth as a well tamed pack. I found it quite infantile...
Nevertheless, after 3-4 people showing their teeth, a new ad struck, this time on a well prepared crowd: an ad to a dentist practise!  

Even the ice polishing machines had ads on them!



At one point of time, during the game, I have noticed a lady holding a microphone in her hand advancing to a vip area next to the ice, followed by 4 other ladies. They all took a sit on some armchairs (you can see them in the second picture, the beige ones) and nothing more happened as long as the puck was on the ice. Then, at one break, the microphone lady appeared on screen and said that four ladies from the public had their seats upgraded by the X furniture company. Then she conducted a mini interview with those ladies, asking them how they feel to be upgraded and being very careful to mention the X furniture company at each sentence possible, like: "How do you feel now that you have been upgraded by X furniture - furniture for your life ?" Kind of lame, but see below for even more lame stuff with the same lady.

All in all, maybe I'm wrong, but I got the distinct feeling that the game on ice was actually dictated by the advertising on that screen. I have noticed several times the referee ready to throw the puck into the game but lingering a bit more to allow the current ad to finish the message :) I wouldn't be surprised if these poor guys have this in their job description now.

The American style


Probably the most embarrassing moments happened during the breaks when the microphone lady presented over the 4 big screens a trimmed down version of Blind date, that game with one guy that cannot see 3 ladies and he's trying to pick one based on her answers to some questions.
Now, let aside that the ladies were well overdue for being picked (unless you really prefer hen to chicken, I mean :) the whole endeavour was extremely lame and the only effect it had was that, after this event, those ladies probably started using Prosac or increased the dosage if already on it.

The reason is that, as said, there were not many people in the arena for this event and even less were in their seats during the break, most being out for some food or drinks. This had impacted the "mini show" in two ways: on one hand any "smart" answer from the ladies had little echo in the arena; maybe they expected applause or at least some confirming laughs but what they got instead was that type of embarrassing silence moments instead...

The only exception to this silence was a pretty large group of people wearing hoods, (probably from the neighbourhood - pun intended) that had their own list of questions they wanted to ask those ladies. I couldn't understand all they said but, I understood enough to get the point that they are some happy RedTube fans, like me.

So, the second impact of the the empty arena and of the fact that this group of hoodies, by chance or misfortune, were about 30 meters away from the blind date stage setup, was the fact that the ladies heard clearly all the "unofficial questions". Judging their faces, they probably realized they shouldn't have exposed like this but it was too late for them and the crucifixion went on :)

A final aspect that links this chapter with the "advertising hydra" one: they modified the rules of "Blind date", as such, the guy allegedly looking for a partner was actually debilitated and his decision didn't matter at all.
What mattered was the public decision on whom to pick, that should have been expressed by text messages, probably at surcharged SMS rates.

The conclusion


Will I do it again? No.
The main reason would be that you can see the actual play much better on tv, with all those replays and many cameras that allow you to see the puck on both sides of the ice rink.

Then, the overall feeling was that the whole setup is just a trap and I was just a target of as much advertising as possible, and some overpriced junk food.
I'm pretty sure that this feeling would get even more powerful in a more important game, with higher ranked teams and more at steak, so I don't believe that better teams would mean better experience.

Next stop: a basketball match.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012


I thought that racism is something that is far behind US people at least due to the fact they are so mixed in races for so long, not to mention the enforcing laws & system that keeps telling them that "multi-races is the power of this great nation" (Obama had this in a speech few days ago).

I've come to realize that racism was invented here and is here to stay. We do have lots of jokes about black people in Romania (mostly about how extra-long their penises are :), still we don't have any significant black population at all, so it's like silly joking about something we heard about and really don't have any direct experience with.

Racism seems to be present in two forms: whites are racist against any other colors, and any-other-colors are racist to whites mostly by being more permissive to their own race (positive discrimination I think it's called). I'm sure there are more variants to these but I think these are the most widespread forms.

Lemme give you a recent, maybe not so obvious example: "The Voice", the TV show, has as judges three white guys and one black, CeeLo.
They are all turned around and a voice starts to sing; it happens to be a very appealing black lady. Only CeeLo is pushing the button during the song and rest of them are automatically turned toward her at the end of the song.
The moment the three white guys see it's a black, nice looking lady on stage, they all look smiling, insinuating and overexcited to CeeLo and one of them says (whilst the others nod heavily in approbation):
"CeeLo! You're exactly the one you should have turn!"

I find it deeply racist. I mean, they clearly indicated that a nice black woman belongs naturally only to a black man, and they were not referring to her voice. No one of the white males thought: "Wow, a sexy woman! Yami!" they just thought: "Wow, a sexy black woman! She's good for CeeLo!".

One more random example: there is a commercial to a drink that is giving you energy, SK energy. It implies that black dudes are involved in drug dealing activities. Also, the radio commercial for the same "drink" annoyed a few.

Now, one example from the other side of the racism:
I joked with JJ, (my American immersion specialist, her blog is here), greeting her once: "Wazzup my nigga'", in a try to sound like Jackie Chan in the Rush Hour movie.
She got dead serious and explained to me that I could get myself killed using this phrase in certain neighborhoods, not far away from here. I was aware of the implications because this is what that movie actually tries to make a point for, I just teased her to see if the movie is exaggerated because I couldn't believe it is so bad.
Her reaction and her confirmation that the black people indeed use this expression when talking to each other on a daily basis, but they don't accept it from any another race, confirmed that really there is another side of the racism.

Let's be frank: people are careful with other races "by design". In all our minds there is a flag that comes up if we're getting involved in any way with an individual of different race (some have a small on-top-of-ice-cream flag, some a big one on a pole; depends on lots of previous life conditions).
It's a matter of built-in protection to the unknown, a reticence we all have to the "new". We generally mask racism because, as humans, we can control ourselves and make us look like we don't mind. However in stressful or "fast reaction needed" situations the inner reality creeps out easily through the civilization mask.

A good counter-example to this though, is my 7 y.o. kid who was in the situation to talk about a movie. He was referring to the only one black guy in that movie scene but, instead of saying "that black guy" (that would have been completely acceptable in my view as being a quick and accurate pointer), he naturally described him as: "the guy with the blue shirt".

This could actually mean that we are born non-biased. Then, something happens on the way to adulthood that makes us particularly aware of races. Maybe we tag other races too easily, based on individual bad experiences.

Anyway, in the year 2012, in USA, the cradle of "anti-racism" and the inventors of "politically correctness", if an outsider like me can easily find public examples of racism, something went terribly wrong in here.

The politically incorrect USA

Posted on by Downshifter with No comments

I thought that racism is something that is far behind US people at least due to the fact they are so mixed in races for so long, not to mention the enforcing laws & system that keeps telling them that "multi-races is the power of this great nation" (Obama had this in a speech few days ago).

I've come to realize that racism was invented here and is here to stay. We do have lots of jokes about black people in Romania (mostly about how extra-long their penises are :), still we don't have any significant black population at all, so it's like silly joking about something we heard about and really don't have any direct experience with.

Racism seems to be present in two forms: whites are racist against any other colors, and any-other-colors are racist to whites mostly by being more permissive to their own race (positive discrimination I think it's called). I'm sure there are more variants to these but I think these are the most widespread forms.

Lemme give you a recent, maybe not so obvious example: "The Voice", the TV show, has as judges three white guys and one black, CeeLo.
They are all turned around and a voice starts to sing; it happens to be a very appealing black lady. Only CeeLo is pushing the button during the song and rest of them are automatically turned toward her at the end of the song.
The moment the three white guys see it's a black, nice looking lady on stage, they all look smiling, insinuating and overexcited to CeeLo and one of them says (whilst the others nod heavily in approbation):
"CeeLo! You're exactly the one you should have turn!"

I find it deeply racist. I mean, they clearly indicated that a nice black woman belongs naturally only to a black man, and they were not referring to her voice. No one of the white males thought: "Wow, a sexy woman! Yami!" they just thought: "Wow, a sexy black woman! She's good for CeeLo!".

One more random example: there is a commercial to a drink that is giving you energy, SK energy. It implies that black dudes are involved in drug dealing activities. Also, the radio commercial for the same "drink" annoyed a few.

Now, one example from the other side of the racism:
I joked with JJ, (my American immersion specialist, her blog is here), greeting her once: "Wazzup my nigga'", in a try to sound like Jackie Chan in the Rush Hour movie.
She got dead serious and explained to me that I could get myself killed using this phrase in certain neighborhoods, not far away from here. I was aware of the implications because this is what that movie actually tries to make a point for, I just teased her to see if the movie is exaggerated because I couldn't believe it is so bad.
Her reaction and her confirmation that the black people indeed use this expression when talking to each other on a daily basis, but they don't accept it from any another race, confirmed that really there is another side of the racism.

Let's be frank: people are careful with other races "by design". In all our minds there is a flag that comes up if we're getting involved in any way with an individual of different race (some have a small on-top-of-ice-cream flag, some a big one on a pole; depends on lots of previous life conditions).
It's a matter of built-in protection to the unknown, a reticence we all have to the "new". We generally mask racism because, as humans, we can control ourselves and make us look like we don't mind. However in stressful or "fast reaction needed" situations the inner reality creeps out easily through the civilization mask.

A good counter-example to this though, is my 7 y.o. kid who was in the situation to talk about a movie. He was referring to the only one black guy in that movie scene but, instead of saying "that black guy" (that would have been completely acceptable in my view as being a quick and accurate pointer), he naturally described him as: "the guy with the blue shirt".

This could actually mean that we are born non-biased. Then, something happens on the way to adulthood that makes us particularly aware of races. Maybe we tag other races too easily, based on individual bad experiences.

Anyway, in the year 2012, in USA, the cradle of "anti-racism" and the inventors of "politically correctness", if an outsider like me can easily find public examples of racism, something went terribly wrong in here.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

One characteristic that starts to reveal is the locals' lack of trust. I think the "system" gradually pushed them to think that no one should be trusted and they should be aware of everything.

Take as an example an excerpt from "California Driver's handbook" that notes: "If you must stop on a freeway, park completely off the pavement and stay in your vehicle with the doors locked until help arrives. Leave enough space for other vehicles to pass freely. Your vehicle should be visible at least 200 feet in each direction." (http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/parking.htm)

I think the main concern anywhere in the world is to keep that stranded driver away from being killed by another car, mainly due to the high speed on the freeway (a.k.a. motorway) and to keep the car out of traffic as much as possible; that's why they ask him to move the vehicle furthest possible from traffic and stay visible.

The difference in California's handbook is that the driver should stay in the car and the doors must be locked. If it is to be hit by another car, staying inside and locking your own car doors wouldn't help much so obviously the handbook is inducing you that there is a greater danger that lurks, a danger that might be caused by a fellow human. Nice.
(For comparison, in Romanian law they say you should place the car out of traffic as much as possible and get on the nearest grass/field/whatever, as far from the freeway traffic as possible. This way, if the car gets hit at least you're alive.)

Next example from the streets of Redwood Shores, a peaceful neighborhood with many acres meadows, wide streets, water channels and active bird life. Still,
to cast a shadow over this joyful life, there are these announcements panels on both of the two entry points in the neighborhood, that from time to time look like this:

Encouraging?

So, what's the idea? Who would benefit if nobody trusts no one and everyone is afraid of others? Sounds a bit like a "divide et impera" policy.

The result is that local people are more circumspect than any others I have seen until now.

For example, I have attended an open house day (for a house rental) and after discussing various aspects for 10 minutes with the realtor, he said to me: "I can see that you're sincere because you look into my eyes and don't blink when you talk to me".
"Jeez..." I thought. "What type of people is this guy getting in contact with if he's so well versed in this 2 cents psychology". Moreover, why being so cautious in a situation in which anyway the tenant is the one completely exposed and tied-up in contracts with all the possible clauses provisioned in, to have the landlord resting assured that nothing could go wrong with his money or house.

Other things happen when I tried to get "odd services" at some repair shops. For example I needed a metallic bed rail cut short, and thought I should try in an auto repair shop, knowing that they should have the tools for the job.
After I told the owner what I need he pointed me to a vice and got me a metal saw and let me do it completely myself. I was surprised but played along and did my job.
The funny part is that, in the end, I handed him 20$ "for a beer" and he was quite surprised himself saying something like: "If I knew you want to pay for it I'd do it for you". Is this lack of trust or what? What you expected man, only buggers asking for freebies enter your shop?

Trust and Fear

Posted on by Downshifter with 1 comment
One characteristic that starts to reveal is the locals' lack of trust. I think the "system" gradually pushed them to think that no one should be trusted and they should be aware of everything.

Take as an example an excerpt from "California Driver's handbook" that notes: "If you must stop on a freeway, park completely off the pavement and stay in your vehicle with the doors locked until help arrives. Leave enough space for other vehicles to pass freely. Your vehicle should be visible at least 200 feet in each direction." (http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/parking.htm)

I think the main concern anywhere in the world is to keep that stranded driver away from being killed by another car, mainly due to the high speed on the freeway (a.k.a. motorway) and to keep the car out of traffic as much as possible; that's why they ask him to move the vehicle furthest possible from traffic and stay visible.

The difference in California's handbook is that the driver should stay in the car and the doors must be locked. If it is to be hit by another car, staying inside and locking your own car doors wouldn't help much so obviously the handbook is inducing you that there is a greater danger that lurks, a danger that might be caused by a fellow human. Nice.
(For comparison, in Romanian law they say you should place the car out of traffic as much as possible and get on the nearest grass/field/whatever, as far from the freeway traffic as possible. This way, if the car gets hit at least you're alive.)

Next example from the streets of Redwood Shores, a peaceful neighborhood with many acres meadows, wide streets, water channels and active bird life. Still,
to cast a shadow over this joyful life, there are these announcements panels on both of the two entry points in the neighborhood, that from time to time look like this:

Encouraging?

So, what's the idea? Who would benefit if nobody trusts no one and everyone is afraid of others? Sounds a bit like a "divide et impera" policy.

The result is that local people are more circumspect than any others I have seen until now.

For example, I have attended an open house day (for a house rental) and after discussing various aspects for 10 minutes with the realtor, he said to me: "I can see that you're sincere because you look into my eyes and don't blink when you talk to me".
"Jeez..." I thought. "What type of people is this guy getting in contact with if he's so well versed in this 2 cents psychology". Moreover, why being so cautious in a situation in which anyway the tenant is the one completely exposed and tied-up in contracts with all the possible clauses provisioned in, to have the landlord resting assured that nothing could go wrong with his money or house.

Other things happen when I tried to get "odd services" at some repair shops. For example I needed a metallic bed rail cut short, and thought I should try in an auto repair shop, knowing that they should have the tools for the job.
After I told the owner what I need he pointed me to a vice and got me a metal saw and let me do it completely myself. I was surprised but played along and did my job.
The funny part is that, in the end, I handed him 20$ "for a beer" and he was quite surprised himself saying something like: "If I knew you want to pay for it I'd do it for you". Is this lack of trust or what? What you expected man, only buggers asking for freebies enter your shop?

Friday, October 5, 2012

My feeling is that the library is something that got in to the locals' lives pretty recently and they don't know what it implies.
Is not that a library is something new in US, more probable the people that form the my library's public are newcomers and where they came from, "the library" was only a pub's name.

Ok I am mean, but based on my experience with the Redwood Shores library, it seems that many don't know that a library should be a peaceful environment.


Whoever designed the floor plan is to be blamed first. The kids' reading rooms are placed in such a way that every kid must cross the entire main reading/computers area to reach there.
As there is no much fun for nannies/housewives/grannies in Redwood Shores, the library is a pilgrimage place and there is a constant traffic of toddlers, babies and kids going in/out their areas, and being obviously -- hello! they are kids! -- not quiet at all.

There is no sign on the wall about the mobile phone usage or keeping noises to minimum. Consequently, many readers speak freely between them, some answer the phone. To my complete dismay, even the curators are speaking full voice with the readers that ask for information, and the front-desk is really close to the main reading/computers area.
To top all of these, last time I was there one lady started a loud "Can you hear me Melissa??" phone conversation mistaking the place to an internet cafe. Luckily the phone coverage was poor and "Melissa" couldn't hear much, otherwise the high-heels-dressed but bare-feet-under-the-desk lady couldn't be bothered by some readers' angry staring.

Add to this that most moms/nannies/grannies do not want to stunt their kids' personalities and never "shush!" them. Sometimes they even escape in the main area, running, laughing and crying while their supervisors run and shout after them.
Funny enough, I have seen also grannies brought from their native country that do not master English at all and show no interest in library's content; they practically just accompany the kid to the "playground", dozing off in a corner for one hour or so whilst the kid is doing whatever he wants, then suddenly they reactivate, quickly collect the kid and head home for lunch.

Finally a bit about the library content. I am for freebies myself and really happy that they have a borrowable DVD section in the library.
Still, beats me how e.g. "Transformers" could be classified as "cultural" and included in library's stock. (Besides, it's surprising that the movie industry, well known for their strong hand and attention to their profits, has no problem in having all these movie available to the public for free.)

Anyway, I filled in a complaints/suggestions form about the noise level and sent it to the director few weeks ago;  no answer yet. Maybe I am just retrograde.

Lesson 2: "At the library"

Posted on by Downshifter with 1 comment
My feeling is that the library is something that got in to the locals' lives pretty recently and they don't know what it implies.
Is not that a library is something new in US, more probable the people that form the my library's public are newcomers and where they came from, "the library" was only a pub's name.

Ok I am mean, but based on my experience with the Redwood Shores library, it seems that many don't know that a library should be a peaceful environment.


Whoever designed the floor plan is to be blamed first. The kids' reading rooms are placed in such a way that every kid must cross the entire main reading/computers area to reach there.
As there is no much fun for nannies/housewives/grannies in Redwood Shores, the library is a pilgrimage place and there is a constant traffic of toddlers, babies and kids going in/out their areas, and being obviously -- hello! they are kids! -- not quiet at all.

There is no sign on the wall about the mobile phone usage or keeping noises to minimum. Consequently, many readers speak freely between them, some answer the phone. To my complete dismay, even the curators are speaking full voice with the readers that ask for information, and the front-desk is really close to the main reading/computers area.
To top all of these, last time I was there one lady started a loud "Can you hear me Melissa??" phone conversation mistaking the place to an internet cafe. Luckily the phone coverage was poor and "Melissa" couldn't hear much, otherwise the high-heels-dressed but bare-feet-under-the-desk lady couldn't be bothered by some readers' angry staring.

Add to this that most moms/nannies/grannies do not want to stunt their kids' personalities and never "shush!" them. Sometimes they even escape in the main area, running, laughing and crying while their supervisors run and shout after them.
Funny enough, I have seen also grannies brought from their native country that do not master English at all and show no interest in library's content; they practically just accompany the kid to the "playground", dozing off in a corner for one hour or so whilst the kid is doing whatever he wants, then suddenly they reactivate, quickly collect the kid and head home for lunch.

Finally a bit about the library content. I am for freebies myself and really happy that they have a borrowable DVD section in the library.
Still, beats me how e.g. "Transformers" could be classified as "cultural" and included in library's stock. (Besides, it's surprising that the movie industry, well known for their strong hand and attention to their profits, has no problem in having all these movie available to the public for free.)

Anyway, I filled in a complaints/suggestions form about the noise level and sent it to the director few weeks ago;  no answer yet. Maybe I am just retrograde.

Friday, June 15, 2012

The whole idea of a GoPhone (or prepaid as we called it back in Europe) is badly twisted here.

After researching for prepaid plans I entered an AT&T shop, picked the cheapest AT&T GoPhone (19$) and a refill card of 20$. Went to the counter and surprise: the guy asks for my name to enter in the computer!
I give it to it slightly annoyed but thinking that maybe it is for the shop (loyalty cards or similar). Then he continues: "Address!"

I couldn't stand it anymore and I asked him: "Why?".
"The system needs it" - and he points helpless to the computer.

"Well, f*ck the system, don't give it to it. Tell it your home address."

"Full name and address must be entered to purchase this" he repeated unconvincingly.

"You're saying that if I refuse to give you these info, you refuse to sell me the phone? Is this the official position of the company or is a bit of a "playing by ear". I mean what's the point in having a prepaid phone if not to have the number associated with anything? "

"They said I should do it" he said softly and looking careful around, like "they" are listening, in an attempt to give me the impression he's actually on my side but he needs to play along.

Anyway... you got the point. AT&T (and probably all others) passed the task to the store assistants to get these info from the buyer.
I am sure there is no law saying that you must give these info, is just abuse. They want to know everything about you.

The good news is that, they just ask you for these info they don't verify it as in requiring your id or so. So the system can be fortunately easily fooled.

One more thing about this prepaid that is not prepaid: I can see lots of ads on tv for various mobile companies bragging that their prepay option gives you X minutes and Y text messages, all of these for only Z dollars per month.
Per month? So my prepaid becomes a... subscription? To which I commit for... months, maybe years?

So why do you still call it GoPhone or pay-as-you-go? It should be better called StayAsYouPay or simply StayAndPay to reflect their hidden thoughts.

I don't think they're stupid. Just abusive and intrusive and would love to hook you up in any way they can.

P.S. The 19$ Huawey phone from AT&T is the worst piece of crap I have ever used for a mobile phone. Is not that it "lacks functionality" or that "is what you get for this money" as some cool, trendy, following-the-hypes, blindly pre-ordering iPhone, gadget-freaks, corporate suckers would probably tell me. It is simply a fucking disgrace.

Lemme give you an example: have you ever seen a phone on which you can key-in a phone number after you lock the keypad??? (I mean a regular phone number not emergency or similar.)

It simply defies the "lock keypad" principle itself and lets you enter the phone number... Moreover, if you try to ring that number, it gives you an error about the network (!)
If you do the same with the keypad unlocked, it works. How stupid is this?

I think Huawey actually assembled a project team and spend a billion in researching how they could cripple a phone in such a way that could determine a user to buy another one in the shortest time. This bugger is the result.

GoPhone, Prepaid, PayAsYouGo or better StayAndPay

Posted on by Downshifter with No comments
The whole idea of a GoPhone (or prepaid as we called it back in Europe) is badly twisted here.

After researching for prepaid plans I entered an AT&T shop, picked the cheapest AT&T GoPhone (19$) and a refill card of 20$. Went to the counter and surprise: the guy asks for my name to enter in the computer!
I give it to it slightly annoyed but thinking that maybe it is for the shop (loyalty cards or similar). Then he continues: "Address!"

I couldn't stand it anymore and I asked him: "Why?".
"The system needs it" - and he points helpless to the computer.

"Well, f*ck the system, don't give it to it. Tell it your home address."

"Full name and address must be entered to purchase this" he repeated unconvincingly.

"You're saying that if I refuse to give you these info, you refuse to sell me the phone? Is this the official position of the company or is a bit of a "playing by ear". I mean what's the point in having a prepaid phone if not to have the number associated with anything? "

"They said I should do it" he said softly and looking careful around, like "they" are listening, in an attempt to give me the impression he's actually on my side but he needs to play along.

Anyway... you got the point. AT&T (and probably all others) passed the task to the store assistants to get these info from the buyer.
I am sure there is no law saying that you must give these info, is just abuse. They want to know everything about you.

The good news is that, they just ask you for these info they don't verify it as in requiring your id or so. So the system can be fortunately easily fooled.

One more thing about this prepaid that is not prepaid: I can see lots of ads on tv for various mobile companies bragging that their prepay option gives you X minutes and Y text messages, all of these for only Z dollars per month.
Per month? So my prepaid becomes a... subscription? To which I commit for... months, maybe years?

So why do you still call it GoPhone or pay-as-you-go? It should be better called StayAsYouPay or simply StayAndPay to reflect their hidden thoughts.

I don't think they're stupid. Just abusive and intrusive and would love to hook you up in any way they can.

P.S. The 19$ Huawey phone from AT&T is the worst piece of crap I have ever used for a mobile phone. Is not that it "lacks functionality" or that "is what you get for this money" as some cool, trendy, following-the-hypes, blindly pre-ordering iPhone, gadget-freaks, corporate suckers would probably tell me. It is simply a fucking disgrace.

Lemme give you an example: have you ever seen a phone on which you can key-in a phone number after you lock the keypad??? (I mean a regular phone number not emergency or similar.)

It simply defies the "lock keypad" principle itself and lets you enter the phone number... Moreover, if you try to ring that number, it gives you an error about the network (!)
If you do the same with the keypad unlocked, it works. How stupid is this?

I think Huawey actually assembled a project team and spend a billion in researching how they could cripple a phone in such a way that could determine a user to buy another one in the shortest time. This bugger is the result.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Just arrived  in Silicone Valley few month ago and I really feel the itch to share some of the impressions I accumulated, mainly about the things which are not as they should be or as expected.

Obviously everything said here represents my opinion and you're free to have a different one. You have the freedom to click away if you don't like the content, as I have the freedom to bark in the night :)

Why "Chine-Fornia"? Well, the biggest shock for me was that most of the population in my daily walking/working/buying/etc area is Asian, and of them all, most seem to be Chinese. Shocking only according to my expectations, as I thought I'll meet the "traditional" California races as in: south americans, white and black.

In fact, it seems that is not only my empirical, visual-formed opinion but also seem to be a real fact as Asians managed to get the first place from Mexicans, the traditional US immigrant (see http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/asianamericans/ for the full story or search google for "The raise of Asian Americans" for lots of opinions about this report).

So, in a try to be forward thinking I decided to choose "Chinese-Fornia" as a name.

Good luck !

Welcome to Chine-Fornia

Posted on by Downshifter with No comments
Just arrived  in Silicone Valley few month ago and I really feel the itch to share some of the impressions I accumulated, mainly about the things which are not as they should be or as expected.

Obviously everything said here represents my opinion and you're free to have a different one. You have the freedom to click away if you don't like the content, as I have the freedom to bark in the night :)

Why "Chine-Fornia"? Well, the biggest shock for me was that most of the population in my daily walking/working/buying/etc area is Asian, and of them all, most seem to be Chinese. Shocking only according to my expectations, as I thought I'll meet the "traditional" California races as in: south americans, white and black.

In fact, it seems that is not only my empirical, visual-formed opinion but also seem to be a real fact as Asians managed to get the first place from Mexicans, the traditional US immigrant (see http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/asianamericans/ for the full story or search google for "The raise of Asian Americans" for lots of opinions about this report).

So, in a try to be forward thinking I decided to choose "Chinese-Fornia" as a name.

Good luck !
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