I sent out this all-newsroom e-mail to my St. Paul Pioneer Press colleagues today:
In the words of Darth Vader to one of his poorly performing Imperial Fleet underlings, “You have failed me for the last time.”
I’m referring to the pop machine on the skyway level, which has cheerfully accepted my legal tender without giving me anything in return — *again*
I swear, sometimes I think the machine is (expletive)ing with me. Sometimes my coins get stuck in the slot. Sometimes they’re summarily rejected. And sometimes they clunk into the apparatus as they should, but yield no thirst-quenching beverage.
In any event, I advise my esteemed newsroom colleagues to proceed with caution where that infernal contraption is concerned. I am done with it.
I just wish I could Force-choke it, as it deserves.
Today's Joy of Tech comic!
Speaking of “failing me” …
I know as the TC tech writer guru, you tend to be all about something close to “bleeding edge”. But a lot of the PP subscriber base is more interested in affordable-simple-works, and “I just wanna have Mom be able to reach me if needed”.
You might want to follow up on https://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/144383?start=0&tstart=0
I’d be interested on a tech journalist’s take on this situation!
Julio —
I don’t use Facebook or Twitter or google+; I’m the kind of introvert that just isn’t interested in social media. I do read a lot online and offline (including the PP!) so I do have a WordPress profile for “rare” commenting. That’s why I used that connection, but my previous comment had been “stuck in moderation” for a week now.
I am a Twin Citian who really uses my cell phone for CALLING. As do many others! Eldercare, businesses, job search, contact from school … if they cannot reach me and I do not even know they are trying to, THIS is a tech PROBLEM.
The link in my previous post is to a long thread on the SpringCare community website. It’s gotten much longer since I posted it. If you aren’t interested in reading the whole thing, please read post #1 and post #108 (addressed to the tech media, really).
I would REALLY like to see the tech media get into reporting about what is happening to those of us who don’t have landlines, but now don’t have reliable call service with cell networks, either. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? The entire industry is leaving people pretty disconnected — not really sure if any carrier is any good. Can the media enlighten us?