In between thunderstorm cells blowing through, and more drib and drabs family moving, I thought I’d take a few minutes and pay attention to my blog.

Security breach
A stowaway on the Bush press plane has been arrested in South Africa.
I haven’t seen the story yet in regular news outlets, and it’s interesting to read it as it is told in breathless Drudge style. No one was injured.

Algeria
The WHO is investigating an outbreak of the plague in Algeria. 10 cases have been confirmed. It is a disease that is spread very quickly through a population that is in contact with infected rodents. If a diagnosis is made in time and proper treatment is administered quickly, the fatality rate is low. Algeria has a population of nearly 32 million, with most living on the northern coast.

Texas
Nine military personnel are in quarantine in Texas after developing SARS like symptoms. There has not been a definitive diagnosis. They passed through Pearson International in Toronto earlier this week.

Credit where credit is due
I got a form letter today from my internet service provider that suprised me.
And, I want to give credit where credit is due. The most important advantages a company has in dealing with me is courteous service and a reliable product.

I’ve never been a Bell Canada fan and have tended to live where I haven’t had a lot of choice, but over the past few years as competition has grown, I’ve seen the company make serious attempts to treat their customers with respect. It’s a big company and it’s going to take time.

I tend to sympathize with their customer service personnel whether it is tech support or billing, simply due to the fact they are on the front line taking a lot of flack. It is refreshing to see senior management take an interest in making life a bit easier for their employees and customers.

I enjoy dealing with their tech support people. I’ve never had a grump. By the nature of what they do, they can deviate from their ’script’, and when I’ve needed them they’ve come through.

My recent complaint wasn’t that the technical department was inefficient when my modem went, it was that billing and their computers weren’t catching up. So, I stayed on top of the problem and followed through until it was fixed. I suspect they are tracking message boards and other online forums where people complain, and that will benefit customers in the long term as things are addressed.

Along with the letter today from a senior vice-president who didn’t justify, deny, rationalize or make excuses, I received a Tim Horton coupon book.
Now, that’s an avenue into most Canadians good will; and Sympatico, I appreciate the problem is fixed, I appreciate your apology, and I appreciate the coupons! Keep up the changes, eh?