Matt’s Blog

I saw this on today’s background image on Bing:

Zooming into the relevant part:

God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.

Last weekend I finally got around to downloading the pictures off my camera, including the pictures from my recent cross-country journey from Atlanta to Seattle. I got to see a lot of great American countryside on that trip including the spectacular view of the Snake River from the bridge leading into Twin Falls, Idaho. Because I’m a giver (ha!) I thought that I’d share my experience with you via one of Microsoft’s coolest projects; photosynth:

Normally, when it comes to technology, I would agree with this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXStPqhLmIk

But recently some statements by AT&T likening data-hungry iPhones to Hummers, combined with my increasingly awful service, have driven me over the edge on this issue. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s being patronized. It’s rant time.

So AT&T is riding pretty high on its horse these days, now that they’ve finally announced the release date for their new cutting-edge iPhone feature… MMS. Yes, fellow iPhone users, only a few more weeks and you too will be able to do what you were doing for years before you purchased your iPhone and your fellow non-iPhone owning friends have been doing all along; that is, send and receive picture messages.

To announce the feature AT&T has trotted out their venerable spokesperson, the geeky Seth, who assures users that they’ve been “working around the clock” to address the issues. After a brief overview of how cell phone data networks work, which I can only assume is designed to impress the average non-technical user with how “complicated” what AT&T is doing is, Seth goes on to chastise iPhone users for being what is essentially the “Hummers” of the cell phone network guzzling down all of the bandwidth. According to AT&T you, yes you the iPhone user, are to blame for AT&T’s network problems.

You have got to be kidding me.

Is AT&T actually insinuating that iPhone users are to blame for the piss poor coverage that they have provided thus far? Please raise your hand if you thought that the iPhone would be anything other than a complete data hog. Waiting…. oh, I see no one has raised their hand, how surprising! EVERYONE knew that the iPhone would demand massive amounts of data, that’s probably one of the reasons that Verizon turned it down. AT&T have only themselves to blame for not adequately forecasting the needs of their customers.

In case you want to see the video of Seth, you can watch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5yIVgj0VVA

My favorite line: “We have heard you and we are on it.”

That’s rich; Seth, if you were actually listening to us at all you would’ve delivered MMS back in July with the REST OF THE WORLD. AT&T has forgotten the cardinal rule of technical service, one that Microsoft has also learned the hard way: The customer is always right. I don’t care how hard it is to make it work, if you (or your partner, Apple… remember those slick iPhone commercials where people find restaurants in 5 seconds) promise something then you better be prepared to deliver or compensate your customer for lack of functionality. You must recognize that there are going to be hard decisions to make, and that those need to be disclosed to the customer beforehand so they can make a decision in full knowledge of the limitations they will face. Instead, like a fat kid on a treadmill, AT&T is always whining “it’s really difficult.” Really? THEN HIRE SOME SMARTER PEOPLE!

What’s happening now would be akin to my cable company telling me that there’s a high demand for NBC’s The Office on Thursday nights, so they might not be able to deliver, while also suggesting that I should keep paying them and keep trying and maybe I’ll get to watch a little of the show. After all, this whole broadcasting thing is really complicated.

The bottom line here for me is not that what AT&T is trying to do isn’t difficult or complicated. In fact it is quite difficult and complicated and completely amazing when it does work. My point is that you shouldn’t promise what you don’t know you can deliver. And you should recognize that customers don’t give a rip about how hard it is, they just want it to work; yesterday. Instead of chastising their existing customers for using too much data and complaining about how difficult it is to deliver service, AT&T would have done well to apologize profusely for not delivering and revise their marketing to be in line with what they can actually deliver. This would have gone a long way towards mending fences with customers like me who have yet to complete a phone call that does not get dropped at least once.

Switching to Verizon, there’s an app for that.

Theta Xi Front Porch Swing

Why I Like It:

One of the great benefits of living in the south is that nearly every house has a front porch. And, even better, many of those porches have swings. The relatively moderate weather in the southeast makes a porch swing something that can be enjoyed nearly year round. A blanket will keep you warm in the winter, and the swinging motion will create a refreshing breeze on even the hottest summer day. The swing on the porch in front of Theta Xi is a great place to sit and sip on a cold drink while watching the world go by.

What Happened There:

I’ve spent countless hours studying, thinking, or just talking with friends on the front porch swing. It also makes for a phenomenal place to end a date. I’m hesitant to mention it, but the swing is one of the main reasons I joined Theta Xi in the first place. My favorite times on the swing by far happened in the early morning when I would take Swat (our house dog) out front to frolic in the yard while I had some quiet Bible study.

Stone Mountain

Why I Like It:

While it’s not much to look at, and certainly nothing compared with the mountains in Colorado, Stone Mountain will always have a special place in my heart. It’s only a short hike to the top, but since it’s the highest point for many miles you can see forever (the picture above does not do it justice). There’s a cool breeze at the top as a reward for the sweaty hike up.

What Happened There:

I’ve had lunch, played frisbee, and enjoyed the sunset all atop Stone Mountain. The park surrounding the rock is itself something to behold as well, a beautiful oasis of nature in the middle of the Atlanta metro area. When I was younger I used to spend mornings at the park on the weekends making a few extra dollars cleaning up the lawn where they put on the laser show. The only thing I regret missing is the Easter morning sunrise service at the summit.

Mellow Mushroom Patio

Sadly I don’t have a picture from here.

Why I Like It:

Mellow Mushroom is home to some of the best pizza in Atlanta, just shy of Everybody’s. But the patio is what puts Mellow Mushroom over the top. The Mellow Mushroom on Peachtree Street just north of I-85 has a great outdoor eating area shaded by leafy trees and lit by strings of outdoor lights. It’s close enough to Peachtree that you can watch the world go by, but not so close that you are overly distracted by it.

What Happened There:

During the summer of 2007 my fraternity little brother Devin and I were both working in Atlanta and started a tradition of eating at Mellow Mushroom every Monday evening. We called the event Mellow Mushroom Monday or MMM for short. As in, mmm… that’s good pizza! We would head there in the late afternoon after work and hang out watching the sun set and the world go by while we enjoyed a large House Special pizza. During that summer we got to chat about life, work, cars and sometimes girls. It was a great time. Sadly after that summer I only made it back to Mellow Mushroom a few times but, when I did, I was reminded of all those MMM’s Devin and I shared.

Buckhead Church

Why I Like It:

Where to begin… I started attending Buckhead when I was a freshman at Tech and have made so many good memories and friends there since. As I have grown and changed in the intervening years, so has the church. We’ve moved from a small retrofit grocery store on Roswell road to a brand new facility at Tower Place. Pictured above is my favorite place in the new church building, the KidStuf Volunteer lounge. Although the rest of the building is often bustling and busy all Sunday, this room is usually quiet and a good place to get away for a moment of quiet reflection. Plus it has a fantastic view of Buckhead.

What Happened There:

Mission trips, worship, learning, service, friendship… there are too many memories here for me to put them all down. I’ve served in the family ministry (KidStuf) and in the main service on the production team, and in doing so I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with some great people. I’ve attended the College Ministry where I got to know some of my best friends and certainly ate my fair share of free food. I’ve been challenged by the weekly messages and teaching in the main service. But perhaps the most personally meaningful happening for me was the weekly meeting of my small group, a group of guys with whom I grew quite close to after two years of challenge and accountability as we “did life” together.

Midtown Jason’s Deli Patio

Why I Like It:

Jason’s Deli has to be one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Seriously where else can you get so much good, healthy food for so cheap? Between the sandwiches, pasta, and my favorites the chili and baked potato I never ran out of tasty options there. Not to mention the salad bar. Now that alone would put all Jason’s Delis on the list, but what sets the Jason’s in midtown Atlanta apart is it’s unbelievably awesome second floor patio. With views of the skyline that are fantastic day or night and a busy, interesting street below eating there was always an enjoyable experience. Add the free soft-serve ice cream afterward and there is literally no way you cannot like this place.

What Happened There:

While I ate hunger into submission there too many times for me to count, there are several Jason’s experiences that are particularly memorable. I loved going there after church on Sunday with friends as a prelude to an afternoon of hanging out at Piedmont Park only a couple blocks away. In 2009 I spent my entire spring break in my room hammering out the bulk of my thesis. Jason’s was a great place for me to get away from it all for an hour or so and enjoy some good food and fresh air. Other times I would take a good book and read for a few hours while enjoying unlimited iced tea. I was a big fan of reading C.S. Lewis there (I even called the meals “C.S. Lewis dates”), so much so that now whenever I read Lewis I get a strange craving for baked potato and salad. But perhaps my favorite times at Jason’s were actually had at the Tower Place location where the guys from my small group were repeatedly forced by me to go gladly and enthusastically went after our Monday night meetings. I think there’s something special about bonding with great friends over good food, and those times certainly qualified. They will certainly be missed.

The Thinking Spot

Why I Like It:

I discovered what became known as “the thinking spot” when a fraternity brother took a few of us there one afternoon. With the possible exception of the roof of the Civil Engineering building, this spot has the best view of Atlanta I’ve ever seen. And unlike the CE building no keys are required to get in. Any time of the year you could go here at night for a spectacular view of downtown and midtown Atlanta. The spot was relatively secluded, which made it great for just sitting and thinking or praying. Many of my friends upon introduction to the place promptly christened it the “make-out spot” and although I agree that it would be fantastic for that purpose, I wouldn’t know So the place will, for now, remain for me: the thinking spot.

What Happened There:

Since discovering the spot almost every major decision I’ve made has spent some time there. The thinking spot has seen the beginning of a lot of relationships, and even the end of some. I’ve been there alone for quiet reflection and prayer, or personal celebration. It was here I decided that I didn’t want to pursue a career in Civil Engineering, and here also that I went many subsequent times to ask God for new direction and revelation. After many frustrating days, I’ve found my sanity here. And after many great joys I’ve thanked God for his blessings here. But my favorite times were when I got to share this wonderful place with friends. Often times a group of us would grab dinner or a couple of beers (or both) and sit and talk for hours enjoying the sights and some good music.

I stop short of saying this is my most favorite place in Atlanta, only because there are so many good things about all the places I’ve been, and even more about the places that I’ve forgotten. But the thinking spot is definitely the place with the strongest emotional ties, and so it seems fitting that it’s the final place on my list. Atlanta was a great home for 6 years and although I miss it, hopefully before long I‘ll be writing all about my favorite places in Seattle.