Given that the hype over Flex has kind of reached its apex I think its high time I start broadening my skill sets. I am not saying the Flex is a “done” technology, I am simply stating that Flex has reached a satisfying market share for RIA development and that the honeymoon is over.
So what does a Sr. Flex Developer decide to pick? Well iPhone development is all the rage so that’s a no-brainer. But then again that is just another client-side technology. Java and ColdFusion are still hot technologies. Going with either one would be a good choice (or both for that matter). I know some PHP and MySQL but I am not sure what the opportunity costs are for continuing to develop those skills are. I don’t really see myself doing too much in the way of web design nor do I see myself as a DBA. I might still tackle those when I can do so without incurring significant opportunity costs.
This post is simply to post my thoughts and maybe get some community feedback. Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns? Let’s hear ‘em.
I just got finished polishing off my shiny new resume. I have successfully wrapped up a stint working on a really cool game project for MTV called Neopets which should be releasing an open beta very soon.
So begins a new hunt to bring home the bacon. So what am I looking for? Well I have 35-40 hrs per week open. I live in the Boston, MA area so if you have an in-house gig in downtown Boston or on the South Shore somewhere, then I might be your man. Also any telecommuting gigs I am open to hearing about since I have been doing the telecommuting thing almost exclusively for the last year and a half. Anyway here is a link to my resume with more details on what I am looking for – link
Preface: Since I am a contractor and do quite a bit of traveling, I figured I would write this as a word of warning for other contractors and as a means to fight back. So to kick this off I would like to say: To all the big businesses whose customer service policies like to thumb their noses to the very people who keep their asses in business. KISS MY ASS!!!
So why am I bitching about this? Well firstly because the very declaration to do so (i.e. my blogging about it) influenced an atypical response from an industry that typically could give two shits about the consumer. Acts of God, weather, etc., are understandable in flight delays. Stupidity and the unwillingness to rectify a situation are not understandable and not acceptable.
You may ask why I use the word consumer versus passenger. The main reason being is that I feel by hammering this point home, maybe sufficient numbers will recognize that they are not merely helpless passengers, but consumers with the power of choice. Secondly I feel that by using key words such as “US Airways Customer Service” and “consumer” that this post will be found among top post in search engines. Today the internet is my weapon. Bear arms and wage war. Alright, let’s kick this off:
consumer purchases ticket off US Airways’ website (not via a finder-service site or travel agency)
consumer lands at connecting city’s airport
consumers haven’t disembarked from plane yet (keep with me here)
pilot informs consumers that there will be a short delay as there is some equipment blocking the plane from pulling up to the jetway
10 minutes pass
pilot informs consumers that there will be further delay in moving aforementioned equipment
many consumers hail flight attendants with concerns about making connecting flights
a total of 30+ minutes pass sitting at a terminal before disembarkation
many consumers miss connecting flights
So two questions come to mind after hearing this situation:
Could the plane not have been directed to another gate?
Could they have not brought forth a mobile staircase so that consumers could disembark and catch connecting flights?
Both questions were asked and neither were answered. But I digress. Let us continue.
Many consumers who have now missed their connecting flights make their way to customer service desks to find alternate means to their final destinations
One consumer follows suit
Said consumer raises Holy Hell at the US Airways Customer Service desk to rectify the situation and to receive compensation for untimely inconveniences
US Airways Customer Service at first is unwilling to do anything more than to find another connecting flight to said consumer’s final destination
US Airways Customer Service has the gall to indicate to the consumer that it was the consumer’s fault as he did not allow for enough time between flights to make connecting flight
Consumer reminds US Airways Customer Service that it was their website that calculated the itinerary AND that US Airways has been responsible for 2 other incidents where consumer lost time and money for US Airways’ poorly conducted business
US Airways Customer Service still has the gall to pass blame to consumer
Said consumer indicates that the situation will be written about and read by people in said consumer’s industry who so happen to be consumers of US Airways and other airlines
US Airways Customer Service is now willing to do more
Consumer receives a $200 travel voucher and a $10 meal ticket to be used within the Philly, PA airport
Consumer indicates that this incident will still be written about but will present the facts as fairly as possible
US Airways Customer Service agent asks that consumer please do not do so
Up to this point it sounds like US Airways Customer Service finally saw the errors of their ways and rectified the situation. The consumer was somewhat pleased that US Airways acquiesced, though still pissed due to missed time. Time passes and new things come to light.
Consumer intends to use $200 voucher to return home
Consumer cannot find a place on the US Airways website to redeem voucher
Consumer calls US Airways Customer Service
First attempt results in speaking with unintelligible US Airways Customer Service agent which ends with said agent dropping the call mid-sentence
Second attempt results in speaking with an intelligible US Airways Customer Service agent who happens to validate the voucher and starts to find potential flights
Second US Airways Customer Service agent happens to put consumer on hold indefinitely (15+ minutes with no audible indication that US Airways Customer Service agent was still assisting the consumer)
If you haven’t guessed so far, I am that consumer. Or rather I am that ex-consumer of US Airways. You can take your measly $200 voucher and shove it up your Corporate-America-The-Customer-Is-Always-Wrong asses. My time is my most precious commodity. I lost out on participating in a time and weather sensitive activity with my family. Their voucher cannot make up for that. For those readers who view this as more than merely a rant, but as a means of fighting these kind of business practices, you too should rise up, inform those companies that you will do so, then write about it. Make sure you use the name of the company and the word “consumer” profusely. This will bring your situation to the attention of like minded consumers who don’t take this kind of behavior sitting down. Fortunately the web is the weapon of choice for the informed consumer. Use it. Bring these bastards to their bloody knees.
You know there is an old saying, “if you don’t vote, don’t complain about it”. So start bitchin’
