RSA Support = a joke

So today I had a very simple question about the RSA log files. Something that any sane employee there should be able to answer me in about 5 minutes.

So I go on their site hoping they have an email or form I can fill to ask the question. Nope, everything that says support wants me to log in to something. I'm a server tech, I have nothing to do with licensing, sales or w/e, why would I evne have a username and password? As much as it would be nice... So I contact sales instead and they direct me to tech support.

So I call the tech support number. I tell them my company name and the serial number, so at that point you'd think she'd know I am a valid customer for that company I stated I was from, given I also gave the serial, which they should have in their records.

She refuses to answer my question, before I can tell her who's name it was purchased under. How the hell am I suppose to know, I'm not the one that bought it, I just support it!

After telling her about 20 names of people that work for my company that may possibly have been involved, none matched. So I put her on hold while my coworker checks some old emails thinking the name was in a CC.

I tell her a few names, no go. Then she says "I'm sorry but I can't waste time all day with this. Please call back when you have the right info." *click*

Yep, they hung up on me! So my coworker calls again, and a case number is opened this time. But remember this simple question? Nope, she could not answer it. (I think it was the same person, but not 100% sure)

In fact, this is where it gets really weird, she asks for what version I have. I ask her where I can find that info. She says that for security reasons she can't tell me. WTF, what do you mean for security reasons? I may know how to get into the Pentagon (unlock doors, walk through) but it does not mean that I can get in. If I don't have access, I don't have access. Telling me to go to the system manager and clicking on something is not going to reveal anything that could compromise security! If I did happen to be some random person calling, I would not have access to the appliance.

At the end of all this I end up having a case number opened and an engineer will call me.

Yeah, apparently at RSA, they need to send an engineer to answer a very simple question. Unreal.

Big ass spider

I found this earlier today. It took quite a bit of effort to kill it. After spraying it for at least 10 seconds, it just kept climbing the wall. I finally ended up flicking it across the room then crushing it with a stick.

That mortar line is about 1/2 thick, just to put it into perspective.

Interesting Evening

So yesterday was quite the interesting evening. I get home with intention of polishing off my AC unit's window venting panel, which went fairly well. During this time I noticed the internet was out. I rebooted my equipment and all but figured there was issues going on. Called the help desk and they were having major issues. So I decided to go to Canadian Tire to buy some wire so I can run a dedicated outlet for my AC unit.

I get home, internet still out, but I decide mow the lawn real quick as it looked like it was going to rain. I did it just in time then went back in to see how well the AC cooled the office. I decided to change a setting on it for the oscillation and poof, power goes out. I think maybe the breaker tripped, but then heard my UPS which is on another circuit, go as well. I confirmed it was the whole house, and not the main breaker.

I wait an hour or two, by this time it's dark. I decide it might be smart to call the hydro company as it seems it's only my street. They tell me they have no reports of an outage so they'll send someone to check it out. About half an hour or so later, I see a truck pull in and two guys with flashlights come out, they go to one of the poles a few houses down and are flashing their lights into it and talking.

Then I hear some metalic clicking as they (I assume) reach to bring the power back on. POOF! some sparks followed by a bit of profanities. They leave, I assume to go get another pole fuse. They come back, similar situation, then I hear and see a momentary arc flash. I actually heard some noises in the house. Assuming it was appliances kicking back on for a split second and going back off. This is why I always set computers to stay off if they are powered off.. don't want a bunch of on/off's.

Then maybe 5 minutes later I hear a click, and the power was restored on the street. It was kinda neat to see what they were doing, and being able to anticipate the power coming back.

I'm nervous every time I touch my AC now!

Birdies again

Here's an update, they are growing up fast and they are starting to run out of room in that nest!

Mothlord

I have never, ever seen a moth THIS freaken big before!

all AC units sold out!

We are getting record high temps here, and nobody has any AC units in stock.

This worked, for about a minute...

Birdies!

More videos of the baby robins.



This one taken a day later:

Another successful DIY project

I don't have AC, but figured if I can at least get the blower to run it would help circulate the air. So I proceeded by buying some 5 conductor thermostat wire. Only need 3 for that, but if I do get AC later on, then at least I don't have to run wire again.

The wire had to be fished from the thermostat, down the wall, into the return, then in the crawlspace, and finally to the furnace. Getting the wire down the wall was tricky and I ended up having to drill a hole upwards from inside the intake (very awkward trying to operate a drill this way!) then had to make a small hole in the drywall so I could catch the wire with my fingers and direct it to the hole. The 2-conductor wire was actually passing between the drywall and the horizontal stud above the return. The bigger wire did not fit here. This is the part that took the longest.

The wire connections I had to do were:

(from thermostat to furnace)

G to G
RH to R
W to W

At the thermostat RC and RH are also jumpered together. I tried without, but then the fan would not work. The heat worked fine without that though.

Also, at first I thought it was not working, since when I set the heat on, and go push on the panel safety cut off switch, it would start up in a recovery mode and not start the heat but just the blower. After realizing this, and putting the panel back on, then setting heat or fan, they both worked.

Since it's hot (and does not help that I tested a heat cycle!) I have the fan running now and I have cool air coming out. Not AC, but better then nothing.

My next step is to look at adding a basement return that can be toggled on/off through some kind of "Y" damper setup.

The eggs have hatched!

The eggs in the nest I found have now fully hatched!

Sick again!

I need drugs. More powerful DRUGS!!!




Hospital grade hand sanitizer is just not cutting it!