I’ve obviously been in a maze mood lately. I found some old AiXeLsyD & Gasoline Dion themed mazes. At the request of a friend, I also made some AiXeLsyD & Gasoline Dion music available for download.
I’m going to have to make up an Ernie and the Berts maze! At any rate, print these out, and try to solve them while jamming to my extinct musical projects, and send me a photo or scan of the completed maze!
The downloads are zip files. If you don’t know how to unzip files, learn. Also, check out my other mazes if you liked these ones.
Here’s another maze. I don’t always get a response to these, but I do like to draw ’em. Maybe someday someone will print, attempt, then send me a photo or scan of said attempt/solution. I made this one pretty easy. There should be a few ways through.
I drew a more difficult one the other night, but sadly the paper is too big for my scanner, and I went all the way to the edge. I’ll have to get it scanned elsewhere.
At any rate, if so inclined, print & finish (or use a photo editor) and post the result!
Personally, I’m all about pushing it from a consumer-level rather than having some government mandates handed down to reluctant (and perhaps allergen-ignorant) business owners.
But, at the same time, I see the monumental importance of government recognition. It spreads awareness and gives hope to those of us trying to express the validity and seriousness of food allergies and anaphylaxis.
So, I urge you to do your part, and write to the governor of your state asking for them to declare recognition of Food Allergy Awareness Week. From the FAAN website:
In 2010, FAAW was recognized in a RECORD 37 STATES! Let’s break this record in 2011!
As of Feb 8, 2011, only one proclamation has been issued (Minnesota). Only 49 more states to go!
So, what are you waiting for? It only takes a few minutes, and you may even get a nifty official-looking document from your governor with a state seal that has the word “diarrhea” on it. I mean, how funny is that?
Okay, so I’m on a roll this morning. That Subway stuff struck a nerve. It reminded me that I would like to have more consumer-driven responses to food allergy issues, and less government mandates. Food Allergy Awareness Week is not for a few months (May 8-14, 2011), but it doesn’t mean that you can’t start getting ready now.
I’m a big fan of all the Food Network shows. I’d love to see an Iron Chef battle where they can’t use any of the “top 8” allergens. I am allergic to shellfish, and always recoil slightly when it’s a lobster or crab battle… or when the inevitable prawn works its way into a dish. There is a Food Allergy Awareness week every May. It would be great timing for such an event… and really help the allergy awareness and cross-contamination cause. There are MANY food-allergic foodies out there!
I’m sure you’re aware that the top 8 allergens are Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Soy, & Wheat. TO have an Iron Chef battle where they ahd to prepare meals without any of the top 8 allergens would be truly epic, and help show others out there that there ARE indeed alternatives & work-arounds when dealing with a life-threatening allergy. Food allergy awareness week this year will be May 8-14, 2011.
Thank you for your time, I hope to hear your thoughts on this matter!
-Eric
I’d like to ask that you also write your own letter or email. And, why stop at one? Please, share with me other places where you think we ought to write, and I’ll write to them too!
I’ll definitely be writing more, perhaps armed with statistics like the following (from Top8Free.com):
Prevalence of food allergies in the United States
Ninety percent of food allergies in the United States are caused by eight foods: Milk, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish. This website is dedicated to a diet free of these allergens. Of course, it is possible to be allergic to just about any protein. In Japan, rice allergy is one of the offenders.
Just to give you a sense of how many kids are suffering from food allergies today, here is a table of the most common food allergies. This does not count children with milk-soy protien intollerance or Celiac disease, only children with Ig-E mediated food allergies.
Percentage of young children with allergy to:
Milk 2.5%
Egg 1.3%
Soy 1.1% (There is little agreement on this number. Estimates range from 1 to 5%)
Wheat 1.0%
Peanut 0.8%
Tree nuts 0.2%
Fish 0.1%
Shellfish 0.1%
Overall 6 to 8% of population
Percentage of adults with allergy to:
Shellfish 2.0%
Peanut 0.6%
Tree nuts 0.5%
Fish 0.4%
Milk 0.3%
Egg 0.2%
Soy 0.2%
Overall 3.7%
Source: Hugh A. Sampson, MD. “Update on food allergy“, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, May 2004
I got an exciting piece of mail from the Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania today. It looks to actually be signed in felt-tip pen by Ed Rendell himself, or at least stamped on by one of his staff. It’s got a nifty raised gold seal, and came in an official looking (& taxpayer money wasting) blue folder.
It’s a proclamation declaring the week of May 9th-15th, 2010 as Food Allergy Awareness Week in Pennsylvania. I believe they’ve declared it in years past, not sure why they need to re-do it every year… but I’m guessing this was sparked by an email I sent recently thanks to FAAN. Their theme this year is to “Respect Every Bite”.
Check out some photos:
Here’s a scan of the proclamation itself…
And, here’s the text:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Governor’s Office
PROCLAMATION
FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK
May 9-15, 2010
WHEREAS, Twelve million Americans have food allergies; 3 million are children under the age of 18; and
WHEREAS, research shows that the prevalence of food allergy is increasing among children; and
WHEREAS, eight foods cause 90 percent of all food allergy reactions in the U.S.: shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat. Symptoms of a food allergic reaction can include hives, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and swelling of the throat; and
WHEREAS, food allergy reactions cause 50,000 to 125,000 visits to the emergency room each year in the U.S., depending on the source. Reactions typically occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food containing an ingredient to which they are allergic; and
WHEREAS, there is no cure for food allergy, and scientists do not understand why. Strict avoidance of the offending food is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction; and
WHEREAS, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death; and
WHEREAS, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about food allergy and anaphylaxis.
THEREFORE, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim May 9-15, 2010 as FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK in Pennsylvania.
GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this seventh day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
EDWARD G. RENDELL
Governor
I just thought it may excite some other allergy afflicted and/or aware people out there, and wanted to share the good news! I know it’s not much, but the proclamation is a small step in the larger awareness of the issue on the whole… and a recognition by the government may lead to further legislation.
Oddly, I think the best part of it is that I got something from the highest state office with a gold seal on it that also contains the word “diarrhea”. If that’s not a win, then I don’t know what is.
I’m told that means “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” or more accurately “Blessings of St. Patrick’s Day upon ye!”. I hope that’s right. Today, we celebrate Irish heritage. How the holiday’s become that, I have no idea. I’d like to share with you some Irish toasts, blessing, song, & food. If you’re not of Irish descent, well… we’ll forgive for just one day. As long as you forgive me for skipping the Guinness and sticking to the Smithwick’s.
Irish toasts & blessings…
A family of Irish birth will argue and fight,
But let a shout come from without and see them all unite.
Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.
An Irishman is never drunk
as long as he can hold on to
one blade of grass and not
fall off the face of the earth.
As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction!
Bless your little Irish heart — and every other Irish part.
From the great Gales of Ireland
Are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry
And all their songs are sad.
Grant me a sense of humor, Lord,
the saving grace to see a joke,
To win some happiness from life,
And pass it on to other folks.
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.
Here’s to a sweetheart, a bottle, and a friend.
The first beautiful, the second full, the last ever faithful.
Here’s to you and yours,
And to mine and ours,
And if mine and ours ever come
Across you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours,
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!
Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold pint– and another one!
Here’s to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here’s to each lad and his darlin colleen,
Here’s to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that’s this Irishman’s toast!
Here’s to women’s kisses,
and to whiskey, amber clear;
Not as sweet as a woman’s kiss,
but a darn sight more sincere!
Here’s to women’s kisses,
and to whiskey, amber clear;
Not as sweet as a woman’s kiss,
but a darn sight more sincere!
I drink to your health when I’m with you,
I drink to your health when I’m alone,
I drink to your health so often,
I’m starting to worry about my own!
I have known many,
and liked not a few,
but loved only one
and this toast is to you.
May God grant you always…
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.
May good luck be your friend
In whatever you do
And may trouble be always
A stranger to you.
May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now
And bless you evermore.
May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.
May neighbours respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
May the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be towards us.
May the good saints protect you
And bless you today
And may troubles ignore you
Each step of the way
May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.
May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.
May the leprechauns be near you,
To spread luck along your way.
And may all the Irish angels,
Smile upon you on St. Patrick’s Day.
May the lilt of Irish laughter Lighten every load,
May the mist of Irish magic Shorten every road,
May you taste the sweetest pleasures That fortune ere bestowed,
And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed.
May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.
May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic Shorten every road…
And may all your friends remember
All the favours you are owed!
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
May the rocks in your field turn to gold.
May the roof above you never fall in,
And those gathered beneath it never fall out.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May the winds of fortune sail you,
May you sail a gentle sea.
May it always be the other guy
who says, “this drink’s on me.”
May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows your dead.
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings,
slow to make enemies and quick to make friends.
And may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
May you get all your wishes but one, so that you will always have something to strive for!
May you have food and raiment,
a soft pillow for your head.
May you be forty years in heaven
before the devil knows you’re dead.
May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been,
The foresight to know where you are going,
And the insight to know when you have gone too far.
May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been,
the foresight to know where you’re going,
and the insight to know when you’ve gone too far.
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door.
May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
May you live to be 100 years, with one extra year to repent.
May you never find trouble
All crowdin’ and shovin’
But always good fortune
All smilin’ and lovin’
May you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed,
And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed.
May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!
May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.
May your home be filled with laughter
May your pockets be filled with gold
And may you have all the happiness
Your Irish heart can hold.
May your mornings bring joy
and your evenings bring peace…
May your troubles grow less
as your blessings increase!
May your pockets be heavy—
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.
May your pockets be heavy—
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.
May your right hand always be stretched out in friendship and never in want.
May your troubles be less
And your blessing be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!
Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
That the tap may be open when it rusts!
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.
We drink to your coffin. May it be built from the wood of a hundred year old oak tree that I shall plant tomorrow.
When we drink, we get drunk.
When we get drunk, we fall asleep.
When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.
So, let’s all get drunk, and go to heaven!
Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
Here’s to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking!
If you cheat, may you cheat death.
If you steal, may you steal a woman’s heart.
If you fight, may you fight for a brother.
And if you drink, may you drink with me. … Slainte!
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies, quick to make friends. But rich or poor, quick or slow, may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
May the strength of three be in your journey.
May the sound of happy music, And the lilt of Irish laughter, fill your heart with gladness, that stays forever after.
Here’s to me, and here’s to you,
And here’s to love and laughter-
I’ll be true as long as you,
And not one moment after.
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head-
If a man doesn’t drink when he’s living,
How the hell can he drink when he’s dead?
May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
May you have love that never ends,
lots of money, and lots of friends.
Health be yours, whatever you do,
and may God send many blessings to you!
May the sun shine, all day long,
everything go right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true!
May you have:
A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart!
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night,
and the road downhill all the way to your door.
For each petal on the shamrock.
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
May the embers from the open hearth warm your hands,
May the sun’s rays from the Irish sky warm your face,
May the children’s bright smiles warm your heart,
May the everlasting love I give you warm your soul.
May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks,
May your heart be as light as a song,
May each day bring you bright, happy hours,
That stay with you all the year long.
May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now,
And bless you evermore.
May the saint protect ye-
An’ sorrow neglect ye,
An’ bad luck to the one
That doesn’t respect ye
t’ all that belong to ye,
An long life t’ yer honor-
That’s the end of my song t’ ye!
May good luck be your friend
In whatever you do.
And may trouble be always
A stranger to you.
May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
May your troubles be less,
And your blessing be more.
And nothing but happiness,
Come through your door.
And some Irish song…
This one’s from Seamus Kennedy, you need to check him out if he’s ever on tour in a pub or a festival near you!
Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.
Remember my Allergies, Alliteration, & Annoyance post? Well, it took me a while to get the first response… and I recently received another response. I have no idea what it means… but I’ll share it here…
from
FAAN Member Services faan@foodallergy.org
to
world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
date
Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 10:22 AM
subject
RE: Allergy Concerns & Subway Restaurants?
mailed-by
foodallergy.org
Dear Eric
Thank you for your e-mail. I have forwarded this to the editing department.
Nominations are now being accepted for the Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference and the FAAN Grandparent Awards. Submit a nomination before Jan. 14 to recognize outstanding contributions to the food allergy community. www.foodallergy.org/section/awards
Raise money for FAAN just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch, www.goodsearch.com, powered by Yahoo!
Editing department? Are they going to publish it on the web? Very odd. Very exciting. Very interesting.
Lately I’ve been getting weird error messages when trying to text to the shortcode of a local radio station. Since my messages were trivial feedback or text requests, I wasn’t really all that concerned… and there other ways to get a hold of the DJ’s. Out of curiosity, I forwarded the error message to my phone, and then emailed it to a local radio personality… and we discovered an oddity amongst ourselves. I decided to pop it into an email or two or three to Sprint, as I have acquired many customer service email addresses over the years.
Thanks to Dave again for editing help on the email to Sprint. I get excited with this stuff, and it’s damn-near impossible to proofread your own work with any sort of clarity or efficiency.
Reads how the story unfolds below, DJ’s identity protected by request.
From: Eric Carroll me@myemailaddre.ss To: customer.servicenet@mail.sprint.com Sent: Thu, December 3, 2009 8:35:30 AM Subject: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
Hello Old Friends at Sprint Customer Service,
I have had several interactions with Sprint customer service before, and they usually go like this or like this. So, please pardon me if I sound confoundedly abrupt, direct, or belligerent. I will try to be as direct & concise as possible in describing this error, which may have an effect on a great number of customers.
The following is an email exchange that I had with a local radio personality today after emailing him out of frustration that every time I text to the number pimped out over the air, I get some sort of error message. Full contents of that message below…
From: Me me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Wed 12/2/2009 To: [DJ] DJ@station.com Subject: [shortcode]?Every time I try to text you guys from my phone at [shortcode], I keep getting this message…
To: me@myemailaddre.ss
Sent: Wed, December 2, 2009
Subject:Fwd:
From: 9230
Sent: Dec 2 1:24pm
Msg: The shortcode you are attempting to use has expired and is no longer a valid short code.
Msg 1051
By the way, I dug the Flyleaf!
-E.
From: [DJ] DJ@station.com To: Me me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Wed, December 2, 2009 Subject: RE: [shortcode]?really???? that is weird, got about a hundred txts for the pick today…
From: Me me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Wed 12/2/2009 To: [DJ] Subject: Re: [shortcode]?
Sprint is the devil incarnate, so it comes as no surprise, must be their issue. Or I’m persistently fat-fingering the wrong number… Ha ha ha.
-E.
.seitilibasid gninrael fo nuf ekam ot ynnuf ton yllaer s’tI
From: [DJ] DJ@station.com To: Me me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Wed, December 2, 2009 Subject: RE: [shortcode]?of the last 50 txts or so, not one is from Sprint..
Please pardon the “devil incarnate” crack, but again, I refer you to this and this… and I only wish I had saved my correspondence about splitting my phone from another plan years & years ago that was mired with “network issues” and a lack of any real solutions until I elevated it to a level where it trickled down to a regional manager to handle.
As you can see, any and all text messages to [shortcode] for their text requests, feedback on “[show segment]”, or general harassment of the DJ’s, may not be going through on the Sprint network. I checked my phone dialing skills, and my fingers are indeed functioning properly. [DJ]’s comment “of the last 50 txts or so, not one is from Sprint” ought to concern you, or at least throw up the proverbial red flag if you will. How [DJ] comes to this conclusion, I know not, but he is a seemingly intelligent person, and who am I to question his knowledge and authority on the subject? Would you dare question him?
It seems odd to me that a shortcode would expire for one network, and not any others. Again, I know nothing of cell phone and data networks and their mysterious inter-workings… I’m just making a guess based on the evidence presented to me.
If the issue is a network problem, I felt that you might like to be notified, so this is that. If the problem is simply with my phone or plan, I’d like the issue resolved as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance for your time, I hope to hear from you soon… and I really hope it’s not an automated response. I hate automated responses with the line “please do not reply to this email”. Seriously. Who wants to read that? I would rather read… “If you don’t have a response from us within X# business days, please contact blah-blah@bowdownto.sprint.gov” or something like that. And please, please, please… do not ask me to call any automated numbers… or provide my phone number to “discuss the issue”. I don’t want to discuss the issue. This is why I took the time to construct a thoughtfully worded and calculated email.
Inquisitively,
-Eric
Heh. I really wish I had that 1st set of Sprint correspondence somewhere. It was highly entertaining. At any rate, got a few responses today already. I’m amazed at the degree of difference.
From: “McDonald, Maria [CON]” maria.mcdonald@sprint.com To: Eric me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Thu, December 3, 2009 8:40:38 AM Subject: RE: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
May be associated with this issue. We are currently working on this.
Thank you to all of you who helped our customers report this, and for those of you who sent these up to me. This was posted yesterday, please let your customers know Sprint is engaged with our roaming partners to resolve this issue as soon as possible. No ETR at current.
Thanks,
BB
Roaming SMS Text Messaging Issue
As of 11/24/09, Sprint CDMA customers nationwide are experiencing problems when sending and receiving SMS Text Messages on some roaming networks.
Details:
· Customers may get an “error 3” message when SMS Text Messages are sent.
· Voice and data roaming is not impacted.
· Sprint is aware of the problem and working with their roaming partner to determine root cause.
· No resolution time has been determined.
· Updates will follow when available.
Actions:
If a customer contacts you about problems sending or receiving text messages while roaming:
· Apologize for the inconvenience and let them know that Sprint is aware of the problem and working as quickly as possible to resolve it, however there is no resolution at this time.
Do not enter a trouble ticket
So, basically, “It’s a network issue that technically isn’t our fault, we have no idea what we’re doing and no resolution at this time even though you pay us a ridiculous amount of money each month for service, sorry.”
From: Eric me@myemailaddre.ss To: “McDonald, Maria [CON]” maria.mcdonald@sprint.com Sent: Thu, December 3, 2009 8:49:21 AM Subject: Re: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
Hello Maria,
While I don’t believe that I’m in roaming when I send these texts, as I’m at work, on top of a large hill, not far from the city, and in an area where my reception & service seem to be consistently good… I can appreciate that this may be related to a larger-scale issue. Why would a roaming issue give me an error message about an expired shortcode?
Thank you for your time & almost instantaneous reply!
Impressed,
-Eric
.seitilibasid gninrael fo nuf ekam ot ynnuf ton yllaer s’tI
Reasonable enough, no? On to the secondary reply…
From: “McDonald, Maria [CON]” maria.mcdonald@sprint.com To: Eric me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Thu, December 3, 2009 8:52:23 AM Subject: RE: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
You’re welcome! I was online reviewing emails when I got your message. I believe it has to do with roaming partner agreements etc. While your phone will not tell you that you are roaming (it usually only alerts you while a voice call is made) it code be your location and the proximity to a roaming partner (usually Verizon) tower.
Try setting your phone to “Sprint only” in your roaming settings and see if it helps. May not change the error though but the company is aware of an issue with sms texting.
It’s Verizon’s fault? Verizon is SMS-blocking me and a local radio station? I can see by the icon on my phone that I’m not in roaming where I’m trying to text. Odd. This is a route we’re not getting anywhere with. Luckily, I have other replies…
From: “Belback, Sarah A [CON]” Sarah.Feather@sprint.com To: Eric Carroll me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Thu, December 3, 2009 9:07:22 AM Subject: RE: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
Eric,
Is your phone on roam when you are trying to text?
Sarah Belback
Store Manager #985
114 Trinity Point Dr
Washington, PA 15301
724-250-1700 store
404-948-0699 fax
480-221-0101 wireless
A more subtle approach, I take it? I’ll go with this then…
From: Eric me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 9:28 AM To: Belback, Sarah A [CON] Subject: Re: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
Hello Sarah,
Thanks for the quick reply! I don’t believe I’m in roaming… I am not too far from the city, on top of a large hill, and in an industrial park when trying to text. I never have any reception rpoblems or roaming notificatons when I’m here at work… and the icon on my phone doesn’t indicate that I’m in roaming.
Thanks,
-Eric
.seitilibasid gninrael fo nuf ekam ot ynnuf ton yllaer s’tI
Regular Text
From: ” Belback, Sarah A [CON] ” Sarah.Feather@sprint.com To: Eric me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Thu, December 3, 2009 9:32:31 AM Subject: RE: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
Ok. When did this start? What is the address where you are at? What is your wireless #?
Sarah Belback
Store Manager #985
114 Trinity Point Dr
Washington, PA 15301
724-250-1700 store
404-948-0699 fax
480-221-0101 wireless
Well, for starters, my wireless number is in the original email if you’re paying attention. It’s the 10 digits in front of the SMS email address. Dave and Kristin (my editing friends) would have a field day with the sentence ended by “at”. Oh, look! I did it again. Oh well, I needed to keep this one going…
From: Eric me@myemailaddre.ss Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 To: Belback, Sarah A [CON] Subject: Re: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ???
Hello again Sarah,
Noticed the error last week ignored it the first few times until I conversed with [DJ] at [station]. I’m in ________________ , PA _____ … my wireless # is ###-###-####.
Thanks!
-Eric
.seitilibasid gninrael fo nuf ekam ot ynnuf ton yllaer s’tI
So, she tries to help again…
From: “Belback, Sarah A [CON]” Sarah.Feather@sprint.com
Ok. Thx! Can you bring your phone to the store so we can test it. If need be we may have to call tech support as well and I know I will need the phone present when we call.
Sarah Belback
Store Manager #985
114 Trinity Point Dr
Washington, PA 15301
724-250-1700 store
404-948-0699 fax
480-221-0101 wireless
Thx? Thx! OMG. WTF? BBQ!
Well, I have no idea why I have this store’s contact info, as it isn’t near me, or where I got the phone. So… I’m not about to go to that store for that reason. The other reason being that I tried to send a text to a shortcode multiple times, and got the same result multiple time. I described in details the problem I was having, and I even provided the exact text of the network error message, including a specific error code. “Error Msg 1051” is in the subject line of the email! [DJ] says that he hasn’t received any text messages from Sprint in the last 50 or so that he had received. It’s obviously not an error with just my phone.
At least Sarah accepts the fact that it may not be part of this larger blanket “Verizon text-blocking” issue.
I haven’t decided how to reply to this yet… as customer service at sprint seems to have time & time again locked me into an endless loop of email/call the #/come to the store/call the “special” #/go to the store/… Repeat ∞.
Which brings me to this gem…
From: “IDEN – Online@sprint.com” online@sprint.com To: Eric me@myemailaddress.com Sent: Thu, December 3, 2009 4:21:29 PM Subject: Re: Error Msg 1051 & Shortcode [shortcode] – ??? (KMM65634876I15977L0KM)
Dear Eric,
Thank you for contacting Sprint regarding message to a short code.
I understand that you are unable to send messages to the short code
[shortcode]. I apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. To
resolve this issue, please contact a Technical Support specialist by
calling (888) 211-4727 and follow the prompts for technical support
assistance. In order to potentially test your Sprint handset, it is
important to call from another phone.
Further, to protect your Sprint account from unauthorized access and
changes, it is important that we confirm your information.
Please reply to this email and provide me with your:
1. First and last name
2. Email address
3. Wireless telephone number
4. Billing address
We value your business and appreciate the opportunity to address your
concerns. Please reply to this email or visit Sprint.com/mysprint if we
can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
James P.
Sprint
Helpful Sprint Links:
Learn to pay & view your bill, check usage and more with our
“how to” videos: www.sprint.com/howto
Preview cutting-edge devices that give you instant access to
what you want, fast:
Palm Pre & other Smartphones: www.sprint.com/smartphones
BlackBerry 8330i & other Push-to-Talk phones: www.sprint.com/pushtotalk
Wow, do I have several issues with this. Just wow. I think it warrants a bulleted list!
“Thank you for contacting Sprint regarding message to a short code.”/“I understand that you are unable to send messages to the short code [shortcode].” – So, you did read my emai? Cool! Finally!
“To resolve this issue, please contact a Technical Support specialist by calling (888) 211-4727 and follow the prompts for technical support assistance.” – So, you didn’t read my email? (Especially at the bottom where I said “And please, please, please… do not ask me to call any automated numbers… or provide my phone number to ‘discuss the issue’. I don’t want to discuss the issue. This is why I took the time to construct a thoughtfully worded and calculated email.”) Well, boo to you, my friends.
“Further, to protect your Sprint account from unauthorized access and changes, it is important that we confirm your information.” – You goofy sons of… items 1 through 3 are all mentioned in the 1st email. It’s an email, so you have my address and first and last name… and again, the phone number was listed. So, I need to email you my billing address and call the 888 number that’s been programmed into my phone for the past 2 phones…? For what? To start the endless cycle noted above?
“Please reply to this email or visit Sprint.com/mysprint if we can be of further assistance.” – I sent you this email for assistace in the first place. I don’t need further assistance… I need an actual occurance of assistance before I can request further assistance. In fact, I don’t even think I need assistance. I think you need the assistance with your network, and I think Verizon needs assistance in text-blocking you.
Wow. I’m not sure where to go form here… but you can see how this is a downward spiral of nonsensical steps in order to (I think) exhaust me to the point where I no longer care about the problem.
And, was that advertisement for themselves at the bottom of the tech support email? Really?
Maybe I should ask Verizon why they’re text-blocking me?
The shortcode you are attempting to use has expired and is no longer a valid short code.
World (and Lunar) Domination 