thePEBBLE - 09/08/06 - Around The Net
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DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND
The Saga Of Pinehill Book II
Money, Marriage And The Way
is now published and available. Buy direct from:
http://www.publishamerica.com
(enter the name Saga of Pinehill in the search box)
If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be able to put
this one down until you're finished it. Enjoy.
DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND
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TODAY'S TRIVIA - - -
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Did Elisha Gray ever get the credit he deserved?
Whatever happened to Elisha Gray?
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ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA - - - -
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What Roman emperor succumbed to smallpox?
Emperor Marcus Aurelius succumbed toe the "Plague of
Antonine," a smallpox epidemic that killed anywhere from 3.5
to 7 million people in the Roman Empire in 180 AD.
Is it true that Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the
telephone, beat another inventor to the patent office by
only two hours?
Yes, it is. Imagine the dismay of Elisha Gray to find out
that Bell beat him to the patent office by just hours.
Imagine Gray's anger and dismay to eventually discover that
patent examiner Zenas Wilber admitted a decade later that he
had accepted a $100 bribe from Bell's patent attorney in
exchange for complete details of Gray's caveat (an
announcement of an invention that an inventor expects soon
to patent). Gray's caveat was filed with the patent office
two hours after Bell's actual patent on a similar apparatus.
It was later discovered, however, that the apparatus
described in Gray's caveat would have worked, while that in
Bell's patent would not have. When Bell first transmitted
the sound of a human voice over a wire, he used a liquid
transmitter of the microphone type previously developed by
Gray and unlike any described in Bell's patent applications
to that date, and an electromagnetic metal-diaphragm
receiver of the kind built and publicly used by Gray several
months earlier
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I'LL SEE IT WHEN I BELIEVE IT!
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There are a lot of ways to become a failure,
but never taking a chance is the most successful.
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thePEBBLE CONTENTS:
1. STRANGE BITS AND PIECES!
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2. COVER STORY . . .
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Around The Net
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3. MEDICAL COLUMN by Karin Henderson
Your Heart And Your Courage:
Both Belong To You
Both Must Be Nurtured And Respected
PART 6 of 11
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4. PERCEPTIONS by Ken Darby
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5. WHY DO WE SAY IT?
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6. THINK ABOUT THIS TODAY!
7. HA! HA!HA!
8. CONTACT INFO
9. THE LAST LINE - - - - -
DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND
The Saga Of Pinehill Book II
Money, Marriage And The Way
is now published and available. Buy direct from:
http://www.publishamerica.com
(enter the name Saga of Pinehill in the search box)
If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be able to put
this one down until you're finished it. Enjoy.
DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND
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Selling your home? Here is a useful link for you:
4 https://www. this is a good one folks - you will get more for your house
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STRANGE BITS AND PIECES!
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the man who designed the Eiffel
Tower, also designed the inner structure of the Statue of
Liberty in New York Harbour.
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COVER STORY . . .
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Around The Net
Our anonymous AOL call center insider mailed us again, this
time with a scan of the Rosetta Stone that AOL's CSRs use to
translate your strange gibberish asking for account
cancellation into a language that they can understand: "Keep
me signed up!"
The "Cancel Billing Close" reads:
Okay, I'm canceling billing on your account as of today.
Keep in mind you can continue to use your AOL Mail and
Software for free as long as you'd like to use them. Since
we are no longer providing your Internet connection, we
still want you to be able to enjoy AOL. You'll no longer be
charged a monthly membership fee! for AOL. Does that take
care of everything?
Most people at this point say "Yes!" but our correspondent
warns us that, really, what you want to do is emphatically
say "No. I want to be completely cancelled, not migrated to
the free service." AOL's free service, after all, is a
slippery slope. Our correspondent says: "If you say NO to
the Cancellation Close - only then can we cancel and give a
cancellation number."
Why you don't want AOL Free: "Even if the member completely
cancels their account, they can go online to AOL.com and log
in with their old/existing user name and password and their
account will work just as the free account does, except they
don't have an active billing account just a free unattached
email service."
Of course, this AOL CSR "Guide to a World-Class MRM Call"
script flow should only really have two branches. "If member
says he wants to cancel, CANCEL immediately. Otherwise, try
to retain."
There's just way too much observation in our correspondent's
email to summarize. Specifically, there's a fascinating look
at how AOL internally reacted to Vincent Ferrari, how the
service got better for a time, but the introduction of AOL
Free led to 7 out of 10 calls being cancellations, which
just sent the customer service spiraling again into
frustrating obfuscation.
The full email of our AOL insider, after the jump.
I have enclosed AOL's cancel script/flow. It's a 16x12 paper
that is placed on our pods. I had to scan it in 3 sections
and then use photoshop to stitch it. The original scan in
photoshop (psd) extension is 63MB so I had to image size it
several times to bring it down to 2 MB.
The script you are looking for is towards the bottom of the
scan. It's called the "Cancel billing close"
Cancel billing close
Okay, I'm canceling billing on your account as of today.
Keep in mind you can continue to use your AOL Mail and
Software for free as long as you'd like to use them. Since
we are no longer providing your Internet connection, we
still want you to be able to enjoy AOL. You'll no longer be
charged a monthly membership fee! for AOL. Does that take
care of everything?
After reading this script, almost all members say "YES". In
their mind they think AOL is now closed and AOL is just
being nice by offering courtesy services.
When they say YES, we have to read a second legal disclosure
that makes the free service legal.
Free services disclosure.
"First, your free service is active. This new service, which
takes effect immediately, includes unlimited access to AOL
via a high-speed Internet connection or a different dial-up
ISP purchased separately from your local cable or telephone
company.
This service plan does not include dial-up Internet access
and does not include live customer support. Due to the
immediate update in your account status you are agreeing to
waive any prepaid dial-up time remaining in your current
bill cycle.
Although you will no longer be charged any monthly
membership fee, you will be responsible for any other
charges you might have incurred since your last billing date
as well as any outstanding balance on your account and any
premium services to which you have separately subscribed. An
additional $5 monthly charge will still apply if premium
services or additional fees are paid through your checking
account or telephone bill.
If you need further assistance or have any questions about
your current services, please visit KW: My Account.
Thank you for calling today. "
Also take note of the highlighted part at the bottom. This
is what gets me. If the member is irate or frustrated with
AOL service and they want their service canceled, we are to
read the cancel billing close. If they say NO - only then
can we cancel and give a cancellation number.
If they say YES, then when we read the "free services
disclosure", when we say " your free service is active" then
they start yelling again at which point we will read the
cancellation disclosure. It is honestly the most ridiculous
script I have had to read in all my years here. We are
making an already frustrated member even more frustrated.
Anyhow you can draw your own conclusions from the member
connect call flow.
I was also reading some of the post-replys of your readers.
One of them mentioned "It is illegal, he didn't think AOL
can do that - he is right. The FTC regulates this however
when we read the second disclosure, where we say "your free
services is now active" the member has now given permission
to AOL to keep his account open and active.
The next one showed her account being debited a penny. This
is proof positive that AOL has kept her account open and
never closed it. Closed accounts show "Account closed" or
"Account terminated"
The only way to show "account closed" is to close down the
account. Tell your readers to get a cancellation number.
Here is a secret:
Even if the member completely cancels their account, they
can go online to AOL.com and log in with their old/existing
user name and password and their account will work just as
the free account does, except they don't have an active
billing account just a free unattached email service.
The only way to make sure an AOL account has been canceled
is to have the consultant give you a cancellation number.
Canceled accounts don't originate billing or marketing and
their emails and other services can still be used. If I
didn't get AOL for free and I had to use it, this is exactly
what I would do.
Believe me when I tell you, my peers are not too thrilled
about what we have to read. Many consultants including
myself have appealed to our supervisors and their managers
but AOL corporate truly believes this action can turn the
tide of cancels. After the Vincent Ferrari scandal, AOL took
a huge PR hit and told all consultants to be nice and cancel
accounts on demand. They even changed our pay, we no longer
get paid by saving accounts. It was all about helping the
member whether canceling or otherwise. Then the free service
was announced and 7 of 10 calls were cancels. After a couple
of weeks of this, AOL corp introduced the new script which
basically turns 90% of those canceling into free services.
Sorry about the long email. There is so much I can tell you
about AOL but my goal here is simply to raise eyebrows at
AOL corp, enough to change the script flow to a script that
is not duplicitous.
What they are having consultants do is shady at best,
illegal at worst. Either way - wrong.
It sure the hell is.
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It is a strange paradox of life that you must
give up your life to gain it.
---- Ken Darby
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MEDICAL COLUMN - - - -
by Karin Henderson
Your Heart And Your Courage:
Both Belong To You
Both Must Be Nurtured And Respected
PART 6 of 11
You have also been born with your intelligence. Once
you really begin to use it to preserve your health,
your courage will automatically grow. As I remind
readers all the time…this is YOUR body: not your
doctor’s. You will have to suffer when thing go wrong:
they won’t. But please remember all the knowledge in
the world will do nothing until it is “covered” by
action. And at that point, something happens to you…you
get it! You suddenly see the need to look after
yourself. Now your courage soars! You are no longer
afraid to ask for clarification or a second opinion. It
may be difficult to find a new doctor, but suddenly you
have the determination to follow a new path to your own
health goals. If you decide it’s too much trouble for
you to ask for more understanding or you feel
intimidated, it can only lead to continuing ignorance.
I want to repeat what I said before. This is your body
and you have the final right to make an informed
decision as to its care. In fact you have an obligation
to look after yourself. That means you must understand
what information you need to be informed, right? How
can you find that out? Ask! It’s that simple. Ignore
negative or discouraging body language. Don’t let
anything stop you from reaching your goal of
controlling your health. One reason mothers are so
successful as mothers is that they will fight for their
families. But will they fight for themselves? Rarely!
Many of us find it easier to fight for someone else, so
fight for your body! As you “journeyed” through you
cardiovascular system, were you not impressed with the
complexity and ability of your body to keep you going?
And you really didn’t have much to do with it. Did you
wonder about all the things that could go wrong? Did
you think of all the things that are right, 24/7?
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Karin Henderson is a registered nurse and is thePEBBLE's
columnist for our MEDICAL COLUMN.
We appreciate her input very much. Thanks Karin.
You can send Karin questions at
mailto:kflh@shaw.ca
Health Information Newsletter.
http://www.prescotts-inc.com
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PERCEPTIONS . . . by Ken Darby
-----------------------DISCLAIMER
Some around me think I am an opinionated old goat.
Whether that be true or not I will sometimes, in this column,
talk about things people don't like to talk about - or don't want
out in the open. Take it all with a grain of salt.
Do your own thinking, and don't accept the things I say as
gospel. They are only mental meanderings from a simple soul.
-----------------------END DISCLAIMER
Did you read the Cover Story today? About AOL? You know why
they don't want to cancel your account, don't you? They need
you around as part of the numbers so they can sell more ads
and make their money that way. A truly cancelled account is
not in their numbers any more.
In other words they are working a fraud. They are keeping
you around, saying you are one of their accounts, and then
selling their advertisers on the big numbers of subscribers
they have. Everybody loses in this one. The only one who
gains is AOL and that is only short term.
I am flabbergasted by the number of people who either don't
know the law "As ye sow, so shall ye reap", or if they know
it, overlook it as if it applies to everyone but them.
It is not my job to pass judgment on AOL. They, by virtue of
the law, are doing that unto themselves. What my job is - is
to make you aware of this kind of thing happening at every
turn. Do you think AOL is the only one who practices shady
business practices? I can name you dozens that are so
obvious I can't figure why they haven't been charged.
It seems that is a way of life in corporate North America.
Does anyone care?
It is precisely this kind of behavior that leads to other
acts, like "cooking the books". In a way this is what AOL is
doing, showing numbers that aren't real or true.
How can that kind of behavior lead to peace, prosperity,
good safe neighborhoods, safe schools and safe roads? In
truth is will not, and in doing nothing about it we are
complicit in the crime. I am not saying you are to stand up
and accuse someone when you see this kind of thing going on.
I am saying even if you have to go out of your way to deal
elsewhere, please do so. People who think like this are best
hurt in their pocketbook and the more people leave and deal
elsewhere, the sooner AOL smartens up. You really don't have
to do much to get your point across.
And it helps lead to peace. It is not that you "taught
someone a lesson". That is not your business. However it is
that you are no longer a part of the problem, you are no
longer abetting the condition and that can make you much
more peaceful.
Peace and prosperity can be yours right where you are. That
is what the story The Saga of Pinehill is about, a blueprint
for you to follow. If you want peace and prosperity within
your own life then get the two books now in print. Read and
study them. The way to your own peace and prosperity is
contained within their pages.
You can get these books direct by going to:
http://www.publishamerica.com
Just enter Saga of Pinehill into the search box and it will
take you to the book page. Do it now while it is fresh in
your mind.
And if you are really serious about finding peace, power and
prosperity then go to - http://www.spiritual-underground.com
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WHY DO WE SAY IT?
Gat: How did we come to call a revolver a "gat"?
The name "gat" was originally applied to a machine gun
invented by Dr. Robert Gatling and first used during the
Civil War. But this gun had a cluster of ten barrels that
looked something like the chamber of a revolver - and so the
name was transferred to the revolver.
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DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND
The Saga Of Pinehill Book II
Money, Marriage And The Way
is now published and available. Buy direct from:
http://www.publishamerica.com
(enter the name Saga of Pinehill in the search box)
If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be able to put
this one down until you're finished it. Enjoy.
DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND
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4 This looks real interesting and worth a click
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THINK ABOUT THIS TODAY!
It is that confidence in the leadership of that man or
woman who guides, that enables people to forget the
perils of the journey and the darkness of the night.
Jerome A. Waterman
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HA! HA! HA!
Bubba and Earl, were driving down the road drinking a couple
of bottles of Bud. The passenger, Bubba, said, "Lookey thar
up ahead, Earl, it's a po-lice roadblock! We're gonna get
busted fer drinkin' these here beers!!"
"Don't worry, Bubba," Earl said. "We'll just pull over and
finish drinkin' these beers, peel off the label and stick it
on our foreheads, and throw the bottles under the seat."
"What fer?" asked Bubba
"Just let me do the talkin', OK?" said Earl.
Well, they finished their beers, threw the empty bottles
under the seat, and each put a label on their forehead.
When they reached the roadblock, the sheriff said, "You boys
been drinkin'?"
"No sir," Earl said. "We're on the patch."
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
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THE LAST LINE - - - - -
Give light and the people will find their own way.
Motto of the Scripps-Howard newspapers
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REMEMBER! - IF YOU SEE IT IN thePEBBLE - IT IS SO!
Success, in reaching your Maker, or any other task, is
not hard work. It is continual work.
---- Ken Darby
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