Just Curious

Still working out the wrinkles in whatever my faith is or is not....

Do you believe in God/ Crees En Dios
	Yes/Si
	No/No
	Not Sure/ No estoy seguro
pollcode.com free polls

The Bible

The Bible is a collection of texts that has inspired and influenced many people throughout history. It is a series of books that has sparked debates and discussions around the world. There are two main versions of the Bible: The Protestant version, which consists of sixty-six books, and the Catholic version, which includes seventy-three books, seven of which are called the deuterocanonical or "second law" books by Catholics and are referred to as the Apocrypha by Protestants. Because they considered these texts to be outside the canon of accepted scripture, Protestants referred to these books as the Apocrypha, which means "hidden books."

The Bible holds a special significance to me, beyond just being a collection of pages, chapters, verses, and words that many believers read in search of meaning and answers to their questions. It is a source of insight into history and politics, and it provides biographies of people who have shaped religion, humanity, and history. The texts describe nature and the concept of God in a poetic way and offer guidance on a range of topics, including relationships, family, money, and code of conduct. The Bible also provides advice on how to treat loved ones with respect and love, and it offers rules for both social and private life. It emphasizes the importance of the individual within the community and the need for mutual respect and understanding. Overall, the Bible is a valuable resource that has shaped my understanding of the world and my place in it.

The Bible consists of two main sections, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, and reading them helps me understand the value of both. The texts provide guidance on love and living a better life, no matter what religion I follow. The Old Testament includes a history of the world and the expansion of people, as well as rules of conduct and the Ten Commandments. It also has biographies of remarkable individuals, such as Job and Esther, and stories of kings like Saul, David, and Solomon. There are also books about prophets, including Jeremiah and Isaiah, which contain predictions and warnings of future events. Additionally, the Old Testament includes books of poetry, wisdom, and prophecy, as well as the book of Ecclesiastes and the Book of Songs. The Prophet's books offer messages to future generations about Christ and the fate of humanity. Overall, the Bible has shaped my understanding of the world and my place in it.

The New Testament of the Bible includes the story of Christ, as well as accounts of the apostles and their work spreading Christianity. It also includes letters from Paul to the churches, written during a time of persecution, on how to be a good Christian. All these stories are included in the same Bible. I have a special relationship with the Bible. Growing up in New Jersey with parents of Puerto Rican descent, Spanish was my first language and the only book we had in Spanish was the Bible, given to me by a pastor whose name I can only remember as "Hermano Suarez." I asked my father, who had only a seventh-grade level education, to teach me to read Spanish from the Bible. He sat me down at the kitchen table with a pad and pencil and a burning candle and taught me the alphabet and how to construct words in Spanish. He also explained the use of accents and the importance of language in expressing our inner thoughts. I learned to read Spanish at the kitchen table under the light of a flickering candle, with the words of the Bible illuminating my understanding of the language.

Growing up, I had a strong impression of the Bible as a large book with bold letters and beautiful photographs of the Holy Land and Michelangelo's paintings and sculptures in the Vatican. I was fascinated by the stories it contained, including those of Samson, Gideon, the Angel Gabriel, Abraham and Isaac, Joseph and Israel, and King David. At the age of twelve, I converted to Protestant, evangelical Christianity, and this marked a shift in my understanding of faith beyond just prayer. Over the past 37 years, the Spanish reading lessons I received from my father at the kitchen table have helped me in my studies and work in Latin America. These lessons also allowed me to deepen my understanding of religion and the concepts of good and evil, light and darkness, and love and hate. To this day, I own six Bibles and have a small library at home, including the tattered Bible that my father taught me to read in Spanish. Although it may not be as visually appealing as many of the other books on my shelves, it is the one that holds the most sentimental value to me. In fact, I have only ever read the Bible in Spanish.

DishNetworks Loyalty Program - No Loyalty

As I am looking for a better deal, I decided to speak with DishNetwork since I have been with them since 2005. I figured they have a loyalty program that would consider me a good customer and thus give me one of those promotions as if I was a new customer...so, here is the result of that conversations.



Chat Transcript

Please wait while we find a representative to assist you...

Welcome to DISH Network Chat.

Uddin (ID: B50): How may I help you today?

Francisco Colon: yes

Uddin (ID: B50): Sure.

Francisco Colon: I am looking to get a better deal....I am currently looking for new service....what can Dish offfer...and I am not looking for more programing

Uddin (ID: B50): I will be happy to assist you with your request.

Uddin (ID: B50): For security purposes, would you please verify the last four digits of the Social Security Number on the account?

Francisco Colon: 1120

Uddin (ID: B50): Thank you.

Uddin (ID: B50): Please give me a moment to access your account.

Francisco Colon: ok

Uddin (ID: B50): Thank you.

Uddin (ID: B50): Currently there is only one promotion running for our existing customers. I can offer you Cinemax free for one month on your account.

Francisco Colon: Like I mentioned not looking to Add....I have enough channels..I don't need another channel...

Uddin (ID: B50): Okay.

Uddin (ID: B50): I am sorry to say but currently we are not offering any discounts.

Francisco Colon: you know when I renewed my service....it was after it was disconnected for over a yr...and I never got a promotion...so...I am technically on a month to month

Uddin (ID: B50): One moment please.

Uddin (ID: B50): Your satisfaction is very important to us, so I would like to transfer you to a specialized department for further assistance. Please be online.

Uddin (ID: B50) has left the session.

Please wait while we find an agent from the (20) Loyalty department to assist you.

You have been successfully transferred to Mark (ID: LQ3) with the Loyalty department.

Mark (ID: LQ3): I will be handling your request today. Please give me a moment to access your account and review your conversation with the previous agent.

Francisco Colon: k

Mark (ID: LQ3): Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Mark (ID: LQ3): I understand you are wanting to lower your monthly cost.

Francisco Colon: k

Mark (ID: LQ3): I will be happy to assist you with your request.

Mark (ID: LQ3): We can remove HBO from the account, That would save you $16 monthly. How does that sound?

Mark (ID: LQ3): Sorry, If we remove just 1 premium that would lower the bill less then that.

Francisco Colon: not very lucrative....if I may say without saying profanity

Francisco Colon: since I watch HBO for Boxing....

Francisco Colon: you can take out about 50 other channels that I never use...

Mark (ID: LQ3): I'm sorry you feel that way. We could lower the core package to drop the price. Would that work for you?

Francisco Colon: what is the core package?

Mark (ID: LQ3): You have the Top 120 currently.

Francisco Colon: ok....

Mark (ID: LQ3): We can get you to the Dish Family package to save you $20 monthly.

Francisco Colon: but are we taking away...CNN, Discovery, History and Fox?

Mark (ID: LQ3): You would get locals and these other channels that are listed:

Mark (ID: LQ3): ____Dish Family Package_____ 9413 ALMA VISION HISPANIC NETWORK (ALMA) 262 ANGEL ONE (ANGEL) 266 ANGEL TWO (ANGL2) 184 ANIMAL PLANET (APL) 119 BIO (BIO) 203 BLOOMBERG TELEVISION (BITV) 175 BOOMERANG (BOOM) 9403 BYUTV (BYUTV) 210 C-SPAN (CSPAN) 211 C-SPAN2 (CSPN2) 152 CBS COLLEGE SPORTS TELEVISION (CBS C) 265 CCTV NEWS (CCTV NEWS) 695 CCTV-E (CCTVE) 976 CD-KIDTUNES (CD 27) 9399 CHRISTIAN TELEVISION NETWORK (CTN) 9406 CLASSIC ARTS SHOWCASE (ARTS) 9396 COLOURS TV (COLRS) 113 COOKING CHANNEL (COOK) 263 DAYSTAR (DYSTR) 111 DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) 197 DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL (DOC) 261 ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK (EWTN) 9418 FEC/PAEC (PAEC) 110 FOOD NETWORK (FOOD) 205 FOX NEWS CHANNEL (FXNWS) 9415 FREE SPEECH TV (FSTV) 167 GREAT AMERICAN COUNTRY (GAC) 185 HALLMARK CHANNEL (HLMRK) 187 HALLMARK MOVIE CHANNEL (HMC) 202 HEADLINE NEWS NETWORK (HNN) 9401 HITN (HITN) 222 HSN (HSN) 230 ICTV (ICTV) 192 INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY (ID) 9394 KIDS & TEENS TELEVISION (KTV) 9410 LINK TV (LINK) 212 NASA (NASA) 178 NICK TOONS (NICKT) 170 NICKELODEON/NICK AT NITE (EAST) (NICK) 171 NICKELODEON/NICK AT NITE (WEST) (NICKW) 9411 NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY HOUSE (NAUHS) 396 OUTDOOR CHANNEL (OTDCH) 9405 PENTAGON CHANNEL (PNTGN) 137 QVC (QVC) 9400 RESEARCH CHANNEL (RSRCH) 9398 RFDTV (RFDTV) 134 SHOPNBC (SHNBC) 179 THE HUB (HUB ) 193 THE SCIENCE CHANNEL (SCI) 214 THE WEATHER CHANNEL (TWC) 9393 THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK (3ABN) 260 TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK (TBN) 106 TV LAND (TVLND) 9412 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UCTV)

Francisco Colon: I see you are running a promotion for top 120 for 29.99 for 12 months.....

Mark (ID: LQ3): Correct, that is a new customer promotion that is not available on existing accounts.

Francisco Colon: so....if I cancel the service I have to wait six months?

Mark (ID: LQ3): To qualify for the new customer promotions you would need to be with out service for 3 months.

Francisco Colon: so....let me take that phrase....and express something...

Mark (ID: LQ3): Okay.

Francisco Colon: why then...when I canceled the service in 2008 and restarted the service in 2010....was I not given the promotion?

Francisco Colon: your Loyalty program is no Loyalty Program...

Francisco Colon: you have a Loyalty department by name...not by actions

Mark (ID: LQ3): I'm not sure, the promotions have changes since 2010 though.

Francisco Colon: so....

Francisco Colon: After Feb 2010?

Francisco Colon: or Before?

Mark (ID: LQ3): Could be that you didn't qualify for that promotion at that time.

Mark (ID: LQ3): I apologize for the inconvenience.

Francisco Colon: as per your previous quote I did...

Francisco Colon: so...let me get this straight...

Francisco Colon: I cancel my service now....

Mark (ID: LQ3): Okay.

Francisco Colon: you don't get three month of money from me...

Francisco Colon: and then I restart service in 3 months....for the promotion

Francisco Colon: does that sound about right to you?

Mark (ID: LQ3): Well that would be up to you, the promotion may change in 3 months.

Francisco Colon: regardless....I am concerned with the now...

Francisco Colon: so...does that sound about right to you?

Francisco Colon: so where is my loyalty?

Francisco Colon: if Dish is Really not looking for it

Francisco Colon: I just want to make sure I am understanding this correctly....

Mark (ID: LQ3): Available offers can vary according to length of service, existing equipment, and are also affected by the offers you selected when you signed up originally. At this time, the offer you are referring to is not available.

Mark (ID: LQ3): How would you like to proceed?

Francisco Colon: I can't get the promotion....because I am not a NEWer customer...

Mark (ID: LQ3): You do not qualify for a new customer promotion, because you are not a new customer.

Mark (ID: LQ3): Is there anything else I can assist you with?

Francisco Colon: but I would if I cancel the Service for three months and then I am considered a NEWer customer then I would qualify as a NEWer customer and get the package?

Francisco Colon: yes?

Francisco Colon: just want to be clear

Mark (ID: LQ3): Correct.

Mark (ID: LQ3): Is there anything else I can assist you with?

Francisco Colon: yes...

Francisco Colon: Please request to change your departments as the NOT Loyalty Department.... Mark (ID: LQ3): Okay


Talking with Comcast now and see what they offer