Englishinny - Blog

So for a while I had a problem with the way certain pages on this site were being served. That means the layout was not exactly correct. Probably most users did not notice, especially users with large screens or resolutions above 1024 x 768. However for those users with smaller screens - not so many these days - things didn't look right.

I couldn't understand what was wrong, neither could some of my team, everybody said there is no programming problem.  So we just could not figure out what was wrong. 

So time passed with the problem unsolved and suddenly there was a new problem. This new problem I did not know how to fix - but I knew how to turn it off - so that's what I did. No big deal about this problem, it was an easy one and my programmer could fix it in a day or two. It was just a small bug...

So I turned it off and guess what - a magical moment - my eyes could not believe it. The sizing problem that we could not figure out - Presto - it was fixed. SERENDIPITY. The problem was solved - GONE !   We solved our problem by accident.

It turns out that the code of one area was infecting another areas spacing. When I turned off that program the infected code was no longer an issue and presto things were perfect. Now that problem no longer exists and how interesting it was to find out, and solve the issue this way. 

To study this posting in detail click here for the lesson

So today, after 2 weeks of waiting for my credit card to be charged and my application to be processed, I called the DOS (Department of State) to find out where my application was and what was going on. After about 10 minutes of various automated voice prompts, the system hangs up on me. So what am I to do except call again… one more time I go through the whole process and finally this time after about 20 minutes I reach a person who says "hold on I’ll check", he was a nice enough fellow and comes back to tell me “ well there was a problem with your application and it was rejected, its been sent back to you”. “Wow - I say - can you tell me what was wrong” so he replies “well not really - for that you need to speak to so and so”.

Okay another week goes by and I get my rejected application, I read what it says and don’t get what’s wrong. So I call the number again, this time direct to the processor who rejected it, the phone rings – voice mail. So I leave a message. Not long later I get a call back and the woman explains what was wrong – I didn’t write my name for the fourth time on the bottom of the second page. So I can't believe that's the problem but anyway I rewrite it and fax it in again.

A few days go by and I still don’t see the $60.00 charge on my credit card, so I call back again – now the third time and three weeks into this. The phone rings but of course I don’t get the processor but her voicemail. I was about to leave a voicemail again but I decide to call back and speak to anyone. So after another 20 minutes of all the same automated messages I get a person and I say “can you tell me about my application”. The person replies “have you been working with anyone” so I reply “yes, so and so” and he says I really should connect you to her so I say "please don’t transfer me she’s not in now and I don’t want her voicemail again, I’m just calling for the status of my application”. So he says “well… okay - what’s the corporate name ?” and I give it to him, he does something click, click, click and he comes back and says “your good”. So I reply “good means it’s been approved ?” and he says “yeap your ready to go”.

So after almost a month something that should have taken a few days is finally done. What an ordeal !!!!

Todays' subject is the NYC transit system - specifically the subway system.  Here's my simple post - why on earth do NYC trains not wait for each other when they are both in exactly the same place at the same time.

It seems to me that this is a type of sadistic joy of the trainmen ! Just like when the slam doors shut and you are right there. How is it that one train seems to be waiting for another, and then upon rolling into the station instead of letting people jump out of their train and into the waiting train instead the doors close and off the train goes. Once the train takes off - well...  you'll just have to wait an undetermined amount of time for the next train. 

You would think with a multi-billion dollar budget and massive computer system infrastructure the transit system could do two simple things: give trains a time schedule and have connections match. Sorry to say - but I really have to call this is a third world subway system. 

What do you think ?

The title of this story is highly sarcastic as you’ll soon see why.

It all started with me walking to my car parked all the way on the other side of the several avenues. I had to do this because here in NYC we have alternate side street parking. In my neighborhood it’s Thursday and Friday from 9-11 a.m. What this means is that you have to move your car on those days so the street cleaning machine can clean the area. If you don’t move your car you get a ticket. Tickets in NYC are VERY EXPENSIVE and being Towed is even MORE EXPENSIVE. 

So today at 2:00 p.m. I walked to where my car was supposed to be and sure enough to my immediate shock I see it’s GONE ! Having lived in NYC now for so many years, and since I live in a good neighborhood, I knew it meant one thing. My car got towed.

So began my joyous day. Right away the pit of my stomach turned sour because I knew I now had a big bill, and huge inconvenience ahead of me. I was walking to my car to go to the gym, so I wasn’t exactly prepared for this turn of events. So in my gym clothes I look for a cab, I can’t find a yellow cab so instead I see a private driver, I stop him and ask him if he knows how to go to the Tow Depot, he says ”well kind of – I was there a few years ago”, so I say “how much” and he replies “10 bucks”. I jump in and we’re driving and I am telling him that I don’t think he is going the right way, but he assures me he is….. well after 10 minutes he says “I think I made a mistake – listen my friend – you should get out here, I won’t charge you – I have to go pick up another customer – but I don’t think your too far away now”. So I get out – and I know that I am not in the right area. I walk a few blocks and see someone to ask if they know where the tow pound is and the guy says “yeah sure your about 3 miles away – just go straight on Greenpoint Avenue then look for Review Avenue then go about another mile”. So I start to walk and I am hoping I can find a taxi – but I am walking and no taxi, and walking more and still no taxi, finally after about 20 minutes it’s clear I’m going to have walk the whole way…….. after another 20 minutes I finally arrive.

So here I am in the tow pound depot – which is directly under the Kosciuszko Bridge – in the middle of nowhere – and directly across from one of a huge cemetery. So I go inside and it’s this tiny, little, dumpy, dingy, old trailer that looks like it’s 50 years old with a beat up plastic tile floor and old paneling and flickering fluorescent lights. The line has 7 people in front of me. After 20 minutes finally the first guy finishes, at this pace I am going to have to wait for 2 and half hours. Fortunately the pace picked up a little but still I had to 1 and half hours. So now it’s my turn. The woman barks out: license, registration and insurance card. I present her everything and she finds my file – I’m miserable about the situation but at least she’s relatively quick and she gives my paperwork.

I leave to go get my car and that’s a process to, I have to walk all the way to the other end of the parking area for another officer to stamp my receipt, then I have to wait for ride to my car. So the car picks me up and about 10 minutes later I get to my car and I see writing in wax all over my window. It’s very hard to take off, but after 15 minutes I finally get it off and I can leave.

Finally I have my car back – but I didn’t tell you the best part, after walking 3 miles and waiting in line for almost 2 hours, I got the joyous pleasure of supporting NYC with a $185 tow fee and a 60 ticket ! So now I am $245 poorer.

So what was the cause of all this ? The city decided to change the rules of parking in the area I parked and they made it a sudden construction road work area. I am going to fight the ticket, and claim I am innocent. Maybe I will get lucky and they will refund my money – but my time is lost, and I’m sure I’ll lose my claim of innocence because the city really needs money and they treat these tickets as a serious business.