Aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggghhhh!
Broadband is off again. Despite coming back on last week, it's been cut off today again, due to the same erroneous "cease" order as before, and there seems to be nothing anyone at BT can do to override it. The System is more powerful than the people. Isn't this was The Terminator was all about?
Anyway, yet again, apologies for what will be another quite week blogwise, while BT try to sort me out.(They're giving me an estimate of about a week, as I have to place a new order! And if I don't, I have to pay for the remaining 20 months of my two-year contract, which seems fair.)
I am feeling remarkably Zen-like about it, tell the truth. But as soon as I am away from this computer, which is at my agent's office (and she needs it back), my blood may start to boil again.
Gnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 12:38 PM
20 Comments
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20 Comments:
I've always wanted to be the first to write a comment on the blog.
Now I have done it, I feel that maybe I could have set my sights higher in life.
Although, you know, only 31 and achieved your life ambition is something you could be smug about, especially if you chose not to let on what that ambition was.
I think that's what I'll be aiming for.
Sorry it had nothing to do with BT, personally I am with Virgin so feel any comments I make would not be based on personal experience, the last time I used BT (at home anyway) was on one of those old crank dial phones. So that was ages.
Still, first comment! Let's hear it for me! Wooo!
Wooop!
Unfortunately there is no prize for getting the first post.
Second placed post gets a biscuit though!
*munch*
I caught News Knight with Sir Trevor McDonald on Sunday night and Marcus Brigstocke had a lot to say about BT Internet.
If I remember rightly, it ended with him turning to camera and announcing that they were "shit"!
Indeed. Listeners to The Now Show have been made painfully aware of Marcus Brigstocke's dislike of BT Broadband.
Would just like to congratulate Nath on his being first to post.
"if I don't, I have to pay for the remaining 20 months of my two-year contract, which seems fair"
If you do want to leave BT, then write to them saying that due to their actions you consider them to be in breach of contract and are not liable for any cancellation fee.
They will try to talk you out of it, (you will probably need to send a second letter) but if you stick to your guns they will definitely let you have it your way - the last thing they would want to do would be to take you to court, which would mean lots of bad publicity for them (not because of your celeb status, this would be true for anyone) and a likely finding against them which could lead to many other customers doing the same thing.
The key is to put it in writing though, you won't get anywhere trying this tactic over the phone.
Indeed. Listeners to The Now Show have been made painfully aware of Marcus Brigstocke's dislike of BT Broadband.
If only someone famous could make us aware of their dislike for Marcus Brigstocke.
machine levine
Unfortunately justin, in a situation the like of which you describe there would be no 'finding' for the benefit of others, just a whole load of letters & calls from a debt collection agency & a possible small claims hearing. Totally agree about the breach of contract though!
I'm still saying 'Otelo'
It seems to me that there is far more credit in having the LAST word...
AnonoNick
oh, I get it. Now one of you will comment and then ruin this moment of glory for me.....
As if we'd do that, AnonoNick.
...oh...sorry...
Although not famous, I can't stand Marcus Brigstocke's attempts to turn himself into the British John Stewart.
Every programme he makes seems to ape The Daily Show, but without the slick presentation and with only a fraction of the humour.
News Knight is possibly the least funny comedy programme I have ever seen, saved only by the occasional appearance of Frankie Boyle.
Brigstocke also has a funny shaped head. There, I've said it.
Chris
I knew it wouldn't last. Hang on, wait a second, it's back with me again! This time, if I say something profound then I am bound to be left alone with the glory.
Right, something profound, er, em. Hmm,... I know...
"42"
AnonoNick
How freaky is that? I watched Hitchhiker's last night!
You have got to love Douglas Adams, now there was a truly great man.
Did anyone else read his other, less famous books? 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency' & 'The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul'.
They are really something else, loved them loved them loved them.
If you haven't read them, do so. You wont regret it (especially if you liked the other books).
Oh, I just realised what I have done. Sorry AnonoNick, but it's obvious that my achievement, the first entry on this particular blog, can't be taken away from me (unless Mr Collings steps in with that delete button - Nooooo!! I'm playing nicely!).
But the achievement of leaving the last comment can be taken away by any mindless idiot with a keyboard.
Taa Daaaaaaaa!
My point proven.
I've given up on the final word, another ambition crushed...
I've got the first four HitchHikers signed at home (destined for e-bay when I get round to it) and I remember the signing session for the first one very well. I was about twenty two and turned up in jeans and a t-shirt to find that most of the queue were wearing dressing gowns and were carrying towels. Did feel kind of out of place I have to say!
He was a nice guy and the books are classics. I have a view of a kind of holy trinity, Adams for sci-fi, Pratchett for Fantasy and more recently Jasper Fford for literature. Clever, clever people that really have/had a fresh take on writing.
Andrew, now and then you mention that you are considering writing fiction, what type of fiction?
AnonoNick
See I thought Marcus Brigstocke was actually quite funny when he did the stand-up in French on the 'Excuse my french' show last year, but his chav impressions are annoying. I also thought the RDA with John Gordillo (for those that remember BBC Choice) was funnier than the Late Edition but in a car crash way.
As for Daily Show - the writing seems weaker, and with the exception of John Oliver, can't think of anybody that catches the eye humour-wise. They miss Carell and Colbert definitely. I think Real Time with Bill Maher is better, and wish that More4 would pick up eps of that.
machine levine
I love Jasper Fforde too, extremely addictive, read them all as soon as I discovered him.
Back to the interesting point, what type of fiction are you going to write then AC? Being this is your website, you know, might be nice of you to make a comment..
Oh, that's right, BT, Broadband, it's coming back to me now, service disrupted, very angry, effectively managed to spell Gnnnnnnnnn, something I have never been able to put into letters before.
Well, if you wont be able to answer this question soon maybe we should all try to come up with a loose plot for AC to fill in. He can keep the credit, because in my mind the plot will be very loose.
Here goes:
This guy, or woman, does something amazing. Then he / she decides it wasn't as amazing as he / she hoped and now he / she is trying to stop the world coming to an end in some way or another (I dunno, Smokers have a revolution or something and take over the country) and then he / she discovers his / her ability, you know the amazing thing from the beginning that we discussed, well that ability or thing helps to save the world. Indirectly. Because directly is just so cheesy!
Anyway, there you go, I'll expect to see the book (hopefully longer than the above, otherwise that's just blatant profiteering) on the bookshelves and tables at bookshops soon.
Your welcome.
Anyone else think that can do better than that then? Step Up!
Yes, I am soo bored. I'm sorry for wasting your life.
Levine -
Not sure the writing on The Daily Show is weaker than elsewhere, especially News Knight, with it's over-reliance on internet clips and Trevor McDonald's sub-Angus Deaton delivery.
John Stewart is fantastic, even if the correspondents don't catch your eye.
(Incidentally, I couldn't stand John Oliver until he appeared on The Daily Show, now I'm a big fan.)
Stewart had a great interview with Alastair Campbell the other day, too. He ripped him apart about Iraq, and Campbell came across as a complete numpty intent on selling his book and nothing else.
I think they do miss Colbert and Carell, though. But I think that combination was always going to be ahrd to replicate. I wish someone somewhere would pick up The Colbert Report and show that, as well as Real Time.
Brigstocke has never once made me laugh. He's like a Tesco Value version of Mark Steel - with no added humour.
Each to their own, though. One man's Askey is another man's Brand.
On the fiction front, I suggest the main protagonist's name should be Colin Andrews.
Chris
that sounds like star wars to me
use the force Luke.....
i've had the last word on two posts now. its not great.I think it might be something to do with people think your a twat.
Broadband back on.
The fiction I would like to write, and am planning to write, should a publisher wish to publish it, would be a serious, contemporary, non-fantasy piece about human relationships set against actual events. I feel coy about revealing more. You know the sort of stuff I am obsessed by. That kind of thing. Definitely not a funny book, nor a book loosely based on my life, or my experiences. I want to write something that will take a bit of research.
"Colin Andrews knows there must be more to him than simply being a talking head on the cutting room floor of a poorly researched six-part BBC2 documentary on the history of homeopathy.
So, when his broadband connection goes kaput, Colin takes off on a personal oddyssey through the badlands of bad grammar and shoddy customer service - to catalogue the birdlife of Britain for possible publication as the definitive broadsheet free poster giveaway...."
Well it's all a bit ancient history now (hopefully), but notice the similarity in theme and title between the above post and this entry from my favourite Waterloo-based independent bookshop.
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