AdamStovicek.com

I got a new replacement credit card. You know the ones: “Here’s your new card. Call this number to activate it.”

Here’s what I was expecting:

Automated attendant: “Please enter the last four digits of your account number.”
Me: *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*
AA: “Please enter your five digit zip-code”
Me: *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*
AA: “Thank-you. Your new card is now activated. Have a nice day!”

Some variations have them automatically identifying you by your phone number which makes the process even quicker. However, today I’m presented with the following:

AA: “Please enter your entire account number.”
Me: “Really? OK.” *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*
AA: “While you’re waiting, you can choose to set up your pin now. This will give you access to cash at any time from many ATMs when you need it most. Press 1 to continue or 2 to decline.”
Me: “No thank-you.” *2*
AA: *insert five-minute sales pitch for the always exciting credit protection plan that goes on and on and on with no sign of stopping while I watch precious anytime minutes tick away one by one*
Me: “What the hell!? Just activate the friggin’ card!”
AA: “Press 1 for yes or 2 for…”
Me: *2* !!!!!!!!!
AA: “Congratulations your card is now…”
Me: *click*!!!!!!!

I haven’t investigated the reasoning behind it, but game publishers through Facebook are asking their players to submit email addresses under the premise that Facebook will make it impossible for them to keep players up to date. That must not be eliciting enough of a response because FarmVille seems to be resorting to extortion tactics by offering free stuff in return for email addresses.

"The box is locked! You need the passcode to unlock it! Want us to email you the passcode? Sign up for FarmVille emails!"

I finished reading J. D. Salinger’s A Catcher In The Rye [B&N] [Powell's] last week and have since resumed reading where I left off with The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell with Valiant.

I had a difficult time reading A Catcher In The Rye mainly because of my dislike for the main character, Holden Caulfield. The role of Holden Caulfield reminds me of many of today’s confused young people. Having to listen to, or in this case read, Holden’s beliefs and his reasons for them would have caused me to find a quick end to the painful one-sided conversation had it taken place in real life. He’s definitely a young man searching for his place in life apparently on his own whether by choice or circumstance.

It was well written and I can certainly understand the drama surrounding its publication in the 1950s given the novel’s themes. Without giving it away for the few who haven’t read it yet, I was unsatisfied with the ending. Like many of the stories written during that time period, there was no real plot, rather you get a glimpse of a moment in Holden’s life, perhaps his turning point. Personally, I need more of a means and an end to my stories.

With that, I return to Captain John “Black Jack” Geary who was unceremoniously given command of the Alliance fleet stranded deep in Syndicate space. The Lost Fleet: Valiant [B&N] [Powell's] is the fourth book of the series where we find Geary and the fleet re-entering the Lakota Star System from which they just barely escaped an overpowering Syndicate fleet.

I’m preparing for the last of this series, Victorious [B&N] [Powell's], to be released April 27. Barnes & Noble should have it to me, along with a few other titles I’ve been waiting on, during the first week of May. Jack Campbell, aka John G. Hemry, says it should tie up some loose ends. There are rumors of a follow-up series and possibly a prequel series to follow. Hopefully I’ll have time to catch up on other books before then.

Source: Amber Alert
Source: chron

Houston Police Department homicide investigators ordered an Amber Alert after a man claimed his 6-year-old cousin visiting from New York was asleep in the back seat of the man’s 2000 red Lincoln Navigator when it was carjacked by two Hispanic males. It wasn’t until detectives noticed his lack of concern for the cousin that he admitted he fabricated the story.

Police have learned that man invented the child in hopes of speeding up the recovery of his 2000 red Navigator.

He has since been charged with felony false alarm response.

Personally, I hope they never find the Navigator or the carjackers. I hope that the carjackers would find a better line of work, but in regards to their last score, take advantage of the victim’s selfishness and tear that SUV down to its last bolt.

The biggest news in the publishing world over the past week centered around what can loosely be described as a playground stand-off between Amazon and Macmillian over eBook pricing. As many Macmillian published authors and their fans took sides over the disagreement, I spent that time finishing book three of the The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell, Courageous. Fortunately these books weren’t affected by that recent event.

So far there have been five books to The Lost Fleet series with a sixth due out at the end of April 2010.

Starting in 2006 with Dauntless, the storyline follows the tribulations of Captain John “Black Jack” Geary assuming the command of a fleet of warships 100 years after he was presumed dead when his own battleship was destroyed in an epic battle that transformed him into a mythic hero. Using coordinated battle tactics and an adherence to command authority, he uses the techniques which were forgotten during the past century he spent in hibernation to bolster his fleet’s ability to wage war in an effort to successfully return the fleet to its home world.

Jack Campbell is actually a pen name for John G. Hemry who has authored two other series, Stark’s War and Paul Sinclair (aka JAG In Space), among many short stories, some of which have appeared in Analog magazine. He’s a retired United States Navy officer and draws on his experience while writing.

So far, I’ve read Dauntless, Fearless, and Courageous. I wish I could remember how I came upon the series but it wasn’t until book five, Relentless, was published. But before I read Valiant and Relentless, I’m going to take a detour from space battles by taking a trip with an American classic: J. D. Salinger’s The Cacher In The Rye.

J. D. Salinger passed away a short time ago on January 27 due to natural causes. It occurred to me at the time that I had not read any of his works. I’m assuming that The Catcher In The Rye was among the many reading assignments I was given in school which I deftly ignored throughout. So with book in hand, I start making up for lost time.

A tragedy to say the least. I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet her. She always looked like she was enjoying life. She certainly deserved more than 32 years of life.

I’ve always enjoyed her roles, however prominent they were. I did, however, have to wonder about The Ramen Girl. She first caught my attention in Dont’ Say A Word with Micheal Douglas and Famke Janssen. I had actually seen Drop Dead Gorgeous before that but I shamefully admit that I hadn’t paid enough attention to notice her role in it. I was absolutely delighted with her role in Spun. As much as abhor “stoner movies”, it was her contribution to the movie that made it easier for me to watch.

Below is a music video of her first foray into music through a collaboration with Paul Oakenfold.

Paul Oakenfold – Faster Kill Pussycat

There are some really classy people at Facebook. Take for instance the following chat that took place in a Zynga Texas Hold’Em chat room. This guy, J.F., wanted some chips from what I presumed was a friend, A.W., a rather attractive girl from her profile picture.

J.F.: a. send me sum chips plzz hun
A.W.: hahahha no
J.F.: ok
J.F.: fuuck you than
P.W.: charming
A.W.: done it j
J.F.: ty hun
J.F.: no you hav not
A.W.: il try again :|
A.W.: its not lettin me j
J.F.: is ok hun
J.F.: cum in a room wiv me and fold

That boy needs a beat down with the manners-stick.

A: G	N: Y
B: E	O: W
C: X	P: F
D: O	Q: N
E: R	R: V
F: I	S: D
G: A	T: M
H: 	U: L
I: Z	V: T
J: H	W: K
K: S	X: P
L: B	Y: C
M: U	Z:

From the makers of T-Shirt Hell… Pornstar or Potato. My score card is below.