Hawaii Updates
Sat January 30, 2010 4:37 pm (UTC-6) by Nick Benson [Permalink] [No Comments | Add]
If anyone wants to virtually follow us on our upcoming trip to Hawaii, I'm planning on uploading as many shots from my phone to Flickr as time allows.
Here's a fancy slideshow that'll update automatically as photos are added:
It's also probable that there will be a few tweets - Emily and I are both on twitter.
Gotta finish (start) packing!
Comcastic Customer Service
Fri July 17, 2009 9:28 am (UTC-5) by Nick Benson [Permalink] [No Comments | Add]
I recently discovered that I've been charged $7 for a couple of months for HDTV equipment that I don't have. To resolve this, I logged onto the Comcast customer support chat system:
user Nicholas_ has entered room
Nicholas(Fri Jul 17 09:59:54 CDT 2009)>Getting charged for HDTV equipment even though I was never given any.
analyst [Comcast Customer Service Rep] has entered room
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:00:04 CDT 2009)>Hello Nicholas_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is [Comcast Customer Service Rep]. Please give me one moment to review your information.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:00:07 CDT 2009)>Good morning! I am here to provide you with the best customer service! I am glad to have the chance to resolve your concern. How are you doing today?
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:56:27 CDT 2009)>I'm great, how are you?
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:00:47 CDT 2009)>That is good to know!
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:00:49 CDT 2009)>I am fine. Thank you for asking.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:57:08 CDT 2009)>I was just reviewing my online statements, I see that I've been billed twice now for "HDTV Equipment"
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:01:09 CDT 2009)>I understand that you want to know why you are charged for the HDTV equipment.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:01:09 CDT 2009)>Is that correct?
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:57:30 CDT 2009)>that is correct - the only TV equipment I'm using is a pair of your cable-cards.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:01:42 CDT 2009)>Thank you for the information.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:57:59 CDT 2009)>Otherwise I've got a TiVo HD that I use as the tuner.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:02:14 CDT 2009)>I could only imagine what you are going through right now. I would feel the same way if I am charged for an equipment I do not have. We apologize for the inconvenience. Rest assured that I will help you resolve your concern today.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:58:19 CDT 2009)>lol
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:02:21 CDT 2009)>I may need to pull up your account first to assist you better regarding your concern.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:02:37 CDT 2009)>Nicholas, may I please have your account number?
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:58:49 CDT 2009)>Sure, I just need to make sure I'm not charged again and get a refund for the two months I was charged for it.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:58:57 CDT 2009)> (Account Number)
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:03:44 CDT 2009)>Thank you for the information.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:03:48 CDT 2009)>For security reasons, can I have the last four digits of your Social Security Number, please?
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 08:59:53 CDT 2009)> (SSN)
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:04:09 CDT 2009)>Thank you for the information.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:04:29 CDT 2009)>What are the services that you have with Comcast, if I may ask?
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:01:21 CDT 2009)>Just the internet and cable
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:01:35 CDT 2009)>internet and cable tv, that is.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:05:46 CDT 2009)>Thank you for the information.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:05:48 CDT 2009)>I already located your account here in our system.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:06:21 CDT 2009)>Nicholas, after checking your account, I found that you have an HD cable box here on your account.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:02:41 CDT 2009)>Yes, I imagine that's why I'm getting charged for it.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:02:50 CDT 2009)>The problem is, I don't have an HD cable box.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:07:58 CDT 2009)>Thank you for the information.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:08:04 CDT 2009)>I am sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:04:36 CDT 2009)>No problem.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:09:35 CDT 2009)>Thank you for your patience.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:10:32 CDT 2009)>Thank you for patiently waiting.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:11:18 CDT 2009)>I am going to correct your equipment here in our system, Nicholas.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:07:25 CDT 2009)>thanks.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:11:38 CDT 2009)>You are always welcome.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:12:43 CDT 2009)>Kindly hold for about one minute.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:14:19 CDT 2009)>Thank you for patiently waiting.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:15:17 CDT 2009)>I already corrected the equipment you have here in your account, Nicholas.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:11:22 CDT 2009)>Great, thank you.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:15:47 CDT 2009)>I am going to process a one time credit for the two months that you were charged on your account for the HD box.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:15:52 CDT 2009)>I will greatly appreciate it, if you take time to answer the 3 pop-up questions after clicking the END SESSION button. This will help us know how to improve our services. Thank you so much.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:12:00 CDT 2009)>Sure, thanks.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:16:09 CDT 2009)>kindly hold for about two minutes while I process the credit.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:17:27 CDT 2009)>Thank you for patiently waiting.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:17:53 CDT 2009)>Nicholas, I already processed a one time credit for the amount of $7 here on your account.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:18:06 CDT 2009)>I understand that you are charged for the HD equipment for two months.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:18:39 CDT 2009)>The system allows only one time credit within a day, Nicholas.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:15:05 CDT 2009)>So, I have to come back tomorrow for my other $7?
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:19:15 CDT 2009)>I am going to make a note here on your account for the other amount of $7 that needs to be credited from your account, Nicholas.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:19:50 CDT 2009)>You just need to either chat us back or contact us through phone to process the other amount of $7 credit on your account.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:16:06 CDT 2009)>Alright.
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:16:21 CDT 2009)>Thank you for doing half of what I needed. Very helpful.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:20:23 CDT 2009)>Rest assured that you will be credited for the other amount of $7, Nicholas.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:20:34 CDT 2009)>You are always welcome.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:20:36 CDT 2009)>I will greatly appreciate it, if you take time to answer the 3 pop-up questions after clicking the END SESSION button. This will help us know how to improve our services. Thank you so much.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:20:39 CDT 2009)>Is there anything else I can assist you with?
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:21:20 CDT 2009)>I am glad that I was able to help you with your concern by correcting your account for your equipment with Comcast and processing a credit on your account.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:21:24 CDT 2009)>Is there anything else I can assist you with?
Nicholas_(Fri Jul 17 09:17:34 CDT 2009)>No.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:22:09 CDT 2009)>I would like to thank you for giving me the chance to help you find the resolution to your concern.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:22:09 CDT 2009)>Thank you for choosing Comcast! We appreciate your business!
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:22:10 CDT 2009)>If you need assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us through Live Chat or E-Mail (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Comcast also offers excellent FAQ and Help forums located at www.comcast.net to help you reach a resolution independently.
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:22:11 CDT 2009)>Have a nice day!
[Comcast Customer Service Rep](Fri Jul 17 10:22:12 CDT 2009)>You may click the END SESSION button now. Thank you!
CRPA 2009 Reflections
Sat April 25, 2009 9:30 pm (UTC-5) by Nick Benson [Permalink] [5 Comments | Add]
I spent last weekend in Chicago at the 2009 Center for Railroad Photography and Art "Conversations about Photography" conference. I had a great time, and got to meet a lot of cool folks.
I arrived in Chicago around 5:00 PM and met my host, Sam Carlson, who was gracious enough to provide a place for me to shower and sleep, even though we hadn't ever met face to face. He showed me the accommodations (a couch in the middle of the train room - accessible only via a duck-under), and we quickly headed to Rondout Junction to shoot Metra for a few hours. At Roundout we ran into Steve Barry, Editor of Railfan & Railroad, his brother (whose name escapes me), Louis Capwell, and J. Alex Lang. Louis, Alex, Sam and myself stopped by Scooters (whose sign features a big clipart hotdog and slogan "Not Just a Hotdog Stand") for supper, and then went on to the official reception.
The reception on Friday evening was nice, and included a nice selection of black and white work by Jim Shaughnessy. I spent quite a bit of time yacking with Alex, Louis, Travis Dewitz, Darryl Bond, and Kent Staubus.
After the reception we headed to the Lantern, where I met Gordon Osmund (I think that was his name - he was working on a book on the Nevada Northern), along with another couple of guys, their names escape me at the moment now, although one was from Springfield, MO, the other from Midwest City, OK.
Saturday morning Sam and I were up bright and early for a gourmet value meal at McDonalds. I dropped off Sam at the Metra station on the way into town (he had to work, unfortunately) and I found a comfy place to sit and enjoy the presentations.
First up was Don Sims, an old timer who had some stunning shots and amusing anecdotes to go along with them. His talk was thoroughly enjoyable, and I probably could have listened to him for several hours. While there wasn't anything about his talk that would necessarily impact the process of my photography, he instilled the need to travel, build friendships, and have a sense of adventure.
Mark Hemhill, a professional train geek, was next to present. He spoke about his experience as the senior railway adviser in Iraq. While he went out of his way to explain the nature of his photos was to document his experience there, and weren't done for the sake of art, they greatly aided the narrative of his time there. His talk was also interesting, talking about what it took to get the job done, the wonderful people he worked with, and concluded with a bittersweet "where are they now," which included diverse fates ranging from demotion and murder to getting a visa and moving to the US.
During the various intermissions I got to meet the world famous Blaszczyk brothers (Andrew and Chris), Jim Thias, Janusz Mrozek, and Ray Peacock. I also got to pass along fleeting comments to Steve Crise and George Hamlin.
Kevin Scanlon's presentation was the highlight of the show. He presented stunning photography and showed the decline of the steel industry out east. He displayed the best photos of the show, and his narrative was also powerful. Lesson learned: shoot everything now, shoot it well, and hope that it looks a tenth as good as his stuff.
Jamie Allen presented an overview of train related objects in the George Eastman House collection. While it's my understanding that she was brought in to bring an "outsider" perspective to our attention, it was a waste of time to have someone explain the aesthetics of the 3/4 wedge (it turns out the track disappearing in the distance provides a sense of perspective - who knew?), nor was it necessary to listen to the 4 minute artists statement about a photo of an HO diorama, complete with overturned tank car, leaking harmful byproducts of man's progress into one of Earth Mother's precious ponds. I appreciate the need for an outsider perspective, but there was too much granola and too little insight for my tastes.
After a wonderful lunch, CRPA staff announced the winners of their 2009 Photo Contest. The theme was "light impressions," most of the photos selected were very nice. I was pleased that one of my shots was selected as a "Judges Also Liked," even though it was focused, sharp, and captured a train in "traditional" light.
I've got a 50 thousand dollar sheet of paper that certifies my expertise in geography, so when I heard the next presenter, Stuart Klipper, was a geographer my ears perked up. Unfortunately a good portion of his presentation was thoughtful reminiscence of his travels without any photos (meaning the big screen he was standing next to was blank). Once he started showing his work, which was exclusively panoramic, the pace became rushed. While it's an accomplishment to show photos from 40+ states in a presentation, and while it's difficult to classify which American region Oklahoma falls into (which has to be either midwest or southwest, but is most certainly not the south, as Klipper decided), his photographic aesthetic just didn't jive with me. I'm not sure if I just need some more time to wrap my noodle around the wide format, or if I need to gain more appreciation for train photos without trains, but I didn't get it.
Steve Barry was next up, and gave a spiel on capturing more of a story with your work. The gist, as I recall, was that the intersection between documenting and creating art is a large one, and that it's important to include structures, signs, and the like in your photos, to give them a sense of place, a sense of location, and a sense of character. As far as practical compositional advice is concerned, Steve did an excellent job. Some of his pointers may have been a bit obvious, but at least he didn't explain why wedgies are so fascinating to look at.
Kelly Lynch had the most polished presentation of the conference, and did an excellent job of showing great moments in train realated cinematography (the clip from "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" blew my mind). While some other attendees felt it had too little to do with train photography, I didn't have a problem with it. Lynch's message was to get out and do a better job of documenting the fact that railroads are still a relevant part of the American landscape was a good one, and perhaps the most inspiring of the entire event.
Kevin Keefe and John B. Corns also put on a good show, going old school and using a carousel projector to display Corns' excellent photography. While there wasn't a particular message to walk away with, the stories were well told, and neither of them explained why the wedgie is interesting to look at. John was gracious enough to put up with me for a few moments after the presentation to accept my praise and answer a few questions about equipment.
The evening reception was pleasant. I got to shake hands with some important folks and even spent time chatting with a few of them. The refreshments were delicious.
The round table with Matt Van Hattem, Steve Barry, and Mike Schafer on Sunday morning went by too quickly, but was extremely informative. It was cool to hear the publisher's side of the story, although it seems folks like me who have the interest in photography, but not in writing, don't have too many opportunities there (apparently they sell magazines because people like reading them, or something...). The two things I got out of the morning conversation were that if I want to get my name published, it'll be a lot easier if I write something, and two, that people need to focus on what's going on in their backyard (as opposed to Flagstaff, AZ).
After things wrapped up, I drove down to Evanston for a delicious lunch at Lou Malnati's with Jim, Janusz, and Darryl. Per Sam's advice, I drove home via Janesville so I could glance over the Wisconsin and Southern operations there. Conditions were unfavorable for photography, but I enjoyed driving around and seeing the relative maze of trackwork there.
I can't wait to go back next year - as far as I'm concerned this is a "must do" event.
My State of Mind Expressed Through Film
Thu February 19, 2009 9:59 pm (UTC-6) by Nick Benson [Permalink] [2 Comments | Add]
Hot Air Affair 2009
Sun February 08, 2009 1:17 pm (UTC-6) by Nick Benson [Permalink] [1 Comment | Add]
Today I had the pleasure of going on a hot air balloon ride, courtesy of my employer, PressEnter, who sponsored a balloon in this year's "Hot Air Affair."
Larger versions, complete with captions, can be found here.
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