Fun in a Call Center: Pango

This started when I was spelling out a medication for a caller.

ME: "A" as in "Alpha," "T" as in "Tango. Okay?
OLDIE: I see. Sir, what does "pango" mean in your language?
ME: [pause] "Pango?"
OLDIE: Yes, "pango."
ME: Oh, no, I said "tango." Like the dance.
OLDIE: Oh, "tango." Like a "T."

Believe it or not, there are still a few call centers that are not staffed in India or Bora Bora.

Happy Demolition Day

Happy Demolition Day!

BOOM!

"Jericho" Falls: Watch "Jericho"

In the past few years, many TV networks have been featuring TV shows online for free. If the networks want to know the possible dilemmas this could bring, they should look no further than Jericho. According to the New York Times, the network cancelled Jericho because of low ratings, then were shocked when they were flooded with phone calls and peanuts (long story) from fans. Where were all these fans when the show was on, they asked? Turns out they were watching the show online and through DVR. So now that Jericho is set to return in February 2008, the network has two words for the fans: "Watch it." On TV. During its scheduled time slot. I think in the age of TiVo and online streaming video, the networks need to start re-evaluating what television really is. Maybe the age of the TV networks are over. But the good news is, Jericho is back.

Memo to the Wallpaper Guy

This is for the guy (or guys) who keeps putting wallpaper images on the public computers in the employee lounge: Every now and then, you change the wallpaper background on the computer to pictures of sports cars, airplanes, and pictures of your pets. You may be wondering why you come back and the wallpaper is gone, replaced by the generic Windows background. That would be me. The reason is that these are not your computers. Maybe you like to have pictures of Porches and DC-10s on your computer, and that's fine. Put it on your own computer. When you go to the public restrooms here at work, you don't change the wallpaper on the walls. And when you use the computers in the lounge, don't go messing around with them. I'll continue to change anything you do back until you get the message.

Newswire: Local Morning DJ Is Clinically Insane

This just in from the New Yuk Times: Local Morning DJ Is Clinically Insane

Back to Life: Not Paris Hilton's Diary

Well, it looks like my report on the death of Not Paris Hilton's Secret Diary was greatly exaggerated. A recent report that Hilton's grandfather cut off her inheritance inspired a new post, the first one in almost two years. I won't say I'll be updating it as often as I once did, but maybe one or two more. That's hot.

Related:
My post announcing the end of Not Paris Hilton's Secret Diary

Have You Met An SP: The Tom Cruise Indoctrination Video

Yeah, I'm jumping on this bandwagon...because I feel this video needs to be spread as widely as possible. There's a video produced by the Church of Scientology that shows Tom Cruise talking about Scientology. And it is bizarre. It makes you question Cruise's sanity. As Gawker.com put it, "if Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch was an 8 on the scale of scary, this is a 10." I seriously believe that if this video were ever shown on television to a mass audience, it would destroy his already weakened career. But it probably won't because CoS is already suing everybody to keep it from spreading. Still, Gawker's got it right now. Once you've watched it, you can read MTV's handy glossary to figure out what, if anything, Cruise is saying.

BONUS: Like everything else online, people have rushed to make fun of it. A few are actually good, too. Like this video from the Church of Twinkie-ology. And this one starring Darth Vader from the Church of Sithentology, which isn't as funny as it could have been.

Related Posts:
The Bride of Cruise