The Latest Thunderbird Update
[Reader note: I started to draft this segment and others several days back. Parts of this first segment may have been similarly posted elsewhere in one of my blogs.]I've gone through innumerable Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird updates through the years. Normally the upgrades have maintained existing configurations although I did notice a few weeks back I had to reconfigure my browser settings (menu and bookmark bars, reset my bookmarks, download my prior add-ons, etc.)
But every once in while I run into issues (often with the iTunes Win update) where an update fails and I'm advised to download the full product. So this happened with Thunderbird over the past day, and I downloaded the full product--only to find out when I restarted, it was totally unconfigured and blank, wanting me to configure a first email account. DAMN! I know instantly what happened--it created and linked to a new profile. There are some nuances to my configuration, include locating mail storage under a cloud backup directory. So a short-term fix was to archive the new profile and replace its contents with those of my old profile.
I then discovered an unexpected new problem: the newly-installed software wasn't updated--and deja vu I ran into another update issue. This time I noticed there was a 64-bit version at the website and downloaded it. Interestingly, it seemed to want to install in Program Files X86 vs Program Files by default. That seemed odd, but I allowed the default to continue, including any necessary 'cleaning up the bird cage'. It seemed to complete as expected but within a day or two, I saw a notice that an update was needed again--and to be astonishment I was not only running the same version--but the 32-bit version. What the devil happened--did the 64-bit installation fail and/or restore the old 32-bit version?
So this time I went to the custom installation option and pointed the application to a Program Files folder and made sure a desktop link was generated. This time I could confirm the 64-bit version and software version (via About Thunderbird). However, two recent add-ons I had recently installed (Provider for Google Calendar and Quick Folders (tabbed)) were missing and I installed/configured again without issue.
This is a new update to this segment. I have software version checkers, and one came back and told me Thunderbird needed to be updated. Say what? Usually the Thunderbird interface lets me know of a new version and/or automatically updates it (e.g., I get a notice on startup that Thunderbird is first applying the latest update). So I connect to the update channel via About Thunderbird, and sure enough it identifies an update, downloads and installs it. A subsequent reboot of Thunderbird and version check--what the devil? No change in version; once again, it's downloaded and applied. This time on restart I get the pop-up bar saying it's applying the update; I get into Thunderbird, check the version (yup, as expected) and the update channel says I have the latest version.
I'm not going to report all the usability issues here, but the initial failed update, having to do updates and add-on installs multiple times, the 64-bit installation path issue, and having to copy over my old profile files to the new profile were all unexpected.
My Infuriating Voice (Tree) Mail Loops
The ISP/Cable Provider Incident
One of my pet peeves deals with service interruptions with power and cable/internet services. I, especially as an IT consultant, do realize crap happens, not to mention occasionally some maintenance interruptions are necessary that are difficult to work around. But in the business world we normally schedule maintenance activities to minimize user inconvenience--like evening, weekend, or holiday times; if and when it cuts into business hours, we typically promote service interruption schedules days in advance.
I have dealt with numerous ISP interruptions (over and beyond power interruptions) to the point I know to power cycle the router/disconnect power cables for several seconds during the process. Occasionally they need to send a reset signal from their end.
Cable TV issues occur less frequently. So when both my Internet and cable went out shortly after midnight, no storms in the area, etc. I immediately suspected maintenance was at play. But I got looped into automated voice mail hell. There was no option to bypass to customer service; the system simply said in effect, "We are having trouble getting to your box; let's send a signal to your box; check if you still have a problem in 10 minutes..." It was clear after 2 or 3 iterations, there was a more general issue, but no reference to outages in my area. After calling back multiple additional times over the coming hour, I finally got a message there was maintenance in my area being done and an expected time for service resumption. You would think that would have been pushed out sooner than later, instead of this absurd "let's test sending a signal to your box" loop; what I really wanted was closure on a time for maintenance completion; I had been convinced about the fact of maintenance being done before I called the first time.
My Utility Auto-Payment Problem
For some routine recurring expenses, there is often an option to auto-pay, e.g., through one's checking account and/or credit card, such as rent, storage rentals, car payments, auto or health insurance payments, cable bills, credit card bills, and utility payments, among other things. I do regularly audit the payments for accuracy and to ensure things like no fraudulent charges. In part, this is to ensure I don't accidentally forget to make a payment. (I have come close on a few occasions, e.g., forgetting to press a payment submit button being interrupted or distracted by phone calls or other things or not getting or overseeing a payment notification.) But I don't really think I should have to double-check auto-payments, which should be highly automated.
So I did a double-take when I got an email for my upcoming utility payment and saw an existing balance line item. Say what? Never mind a late-penalty fee. How the hell did this happen? I remember contacting customer service; I think at some point I got a general email notification of some sort of systems hiccup affecting some customer accounts and late-payment fees being waived.
