Tuesday
13Oct2009

Fuck off Collabera!

Why don't these recruiting companies read the resumes they scrape from the Internet? The answer to all the questions in their generic recruiting email SPAM email was in my resume which has now been removed from my site.

Hi Jonathan,

 This is Ishita from Strategic Resourcing team of Collabera. I came across your profile over the net and wanted to check if you are available for any project as we have some excellent job opportunities for you.

 If you are available and interested to take a look as these opportunities then please send us an updated copy of your resume provide us a convenient time and number to reach you.

 Also, I would appreciate if you can answer the questions below as they would assist us in placing you with one of our clients.

 . What is your current location (city, State and Country)?

· What is your expected annual salary / hourly rate? 

. When did your last project ended?

· What location, throughout the country would you be most interested in working? 

· Given a good project/rate would you be interested in other locations? 

· When are you available to start a project? 

· What is your visa status? 

· What are your preferred email id and your Day and Evening phone numbers?

Thanks and Regards,

Ishita Nanavaty

Strategic Sourcing

Collabera

Phone: 973-774-1429

Fax:     973-292-2838

http://www.linkedin.com/in/ishitan

Tuesday
11Aug2009

Identified as Armed and Dangerous

Today marks the fourth time I have re-entered the United States from Canada and it has proven to be the most interesting of those experiences. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection computer incorrectly identified me as someone who is considered to be armed and dangerous.

As I pulled forward toward the booth housing the awaiting customs officer, there was a brief flash from the camera to the left of my car. When I reached the booth I handed my passport to the officer.

"Roll down your back window," he instructed. My windows are tinted so it was a reasonable request and I obeyed.

"Why were you in Canada today?"

"I dropped off some friends at a U-Haul so they could retrieve some stuff from a storage unit."

He was typing some information on the computer in the booth.

"Okay. I need you to turn of the engine and leave the keys in the ignition." He said as he walked toward the back of my car.

"Step out of the car and face forward. Do not look back." he shouted from behind a cement block with two other officers.

I stepped out of my car facing forward.

"Hands in the air!" he shouted.

"Okay. Walk backwards towards the sound of my voice."

"Stop!"

"Hands behind your back."

I felt the handcuffs ratchet around my wrists.

"Have you ever been arrested before?"

"No." I replied. At this point I was perplexed.

"Is there anyone else in the vehicle?"

"No."

"Alright. Walk this way." He held onto the handcuffs and led me into a small room.

"Face the wall and spread your legs."

"Do you have anything sharp?"

"Nope. The sharpest that I had were my keys and you have those already."

He began to empty my pockets and patted down every square inch of clothing on my body. When he got to my groin he asked that I don't react to him touching me. During the search he said everything would be explained shortly. Another officer watched and gave instruction to the officer doing the frisking. For a moment I thought it may have been a training exercise.

The search went on as another officer entered the room and began searching through my wallet. He removed everything then began to examine it for... who the fuck knows. I have practically the worlds smallest front-pocket wallet.

I was asked to remove my shoes so the frisky officer could perform a foot massage while pretending to search for... again, who the fuck knows. Matches? Explosives? Dirty socks?

Things started looking better as they let removed the handcuffs and told me to put everything back in my pockets. I was also allowed to put my shoes back on. They asked me to come out of the room and wait behind a counter while the file a report.

Two officers tried to explain that the computer had incorrectly identified me as someone who is considered armed and dangerous and that the search was just for safety. I was not under arrest and free to leave.

They left me with a comment card similar to what you get after visiting a restaurant like Red Robin or even Wendy's. The interesting part about the comment card is the code written on it with a sharpie by one of the officer.

3004 PA

I did a quick search on Google and turned up nothing. The field in which this number is written is titled:

U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port/Airport Code (to be stamped or hand written by officer.

I'm curious to know the definition of that code. If anyone reading this knows, please comment!

Monday
30Mar2009

Griffin TuneFlex AUX SmartClick Replacement

I purchased Griffin's TuneFlex AUX SmartClick in January and it worked great. But recently the AUX cable started producing static and noise unless I pressed on the cable in a particular direction. Most likely, this is caused by a bad connection inside the AUX port on the Griffin device.

I contacted Griffin support via email and they requested that I call their support team. After talking to a support rep, they sent me an email with instructions on how to get a replacement. Here is the email they sent:

Hello

Rather than have you send us the defective product, we request taking a digital picture of the defective product destroyed. You can smash, burn or crack open in whatever way you would like, so long as you do so safely. Also, take a digital picture (or scan a copy) of your receipt. If you do not have the receipt, please let me know the timeframe of the purchase. PLEASE TAKE A BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTO.

Next, send me the pictures. Just reply to this email and attach the digital pictures of the defective part and the receipt or you can send it to my e-mail,shannon@griffintechnology.com.

Once I receive the email and verify the photos I will send a replacement to the address that you have provided below. In order to ensure that I receive your email, please limit the size of the email to around 3MB.


Name:
Shipping Address:
Phone:

I can then send you out a replacement.

Have a good day!

Shannon

Griffin Technology
Technical Support

Instead of trying to repair the defective device they would rather me destroy it and send a picture of the destroyed device. I guess they don't trust me when I tell them the device doesn't work and they want to ensure that I'm not trying to scam them into sending another device.

Using a hammer, I cracked open (suggested method of destruction in their email) the plastic body and laid the parts out for the after photo. I attached the photos you see in this post to an email along with a copy of my email receipt and sent it off to Griffin. I hope I destroyed it to their liking.

Tuesday
17Feb2009

iBlogger Test

image1060728497.jpgThis is a medium cup size at Jack in the Box in Austin, TX.
Monday
09Feb2009

Parkour

For a while now, I've been looking for an activity to help me be more physically active and tone my body. After working in the tech industry for a few years I've gotten out of shape. The last time I "worked out" was biking to Microsoft from the other side of Mary Moore Park. A couple weekends ago I watched District B13 at a friend's apartment. David Belle has inspired me to take up Parkour as a means of getting fit and having fun.

I attended my first parkour class at NW Crossfit last Saturday. I barely made it through half of the class before I felt nauseous and was unable to stand. My legs could no longer support my own body weight. Its been two days and the muscles are still sore making standing and sitting quite painful.

I can't wait to do it again.