FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - May 2017

Did not get a call until half way through the month.  I can only hope that means some telemarketing cells were shut down.  Must likely they got lazy or my number was not up yet.

Edit:  First call of the month was originally 12 May.  Based purely on theory, it seems that the first call was on the first of the month...of course if was.

1 May 2015
  310-849-9946  Beverly Hills, CA - Adding back this number due to recent call, see below.  Originally thought this was a wrong number, but got a second call from this number.  I knew a two week drought of telemarketer calls was too good to be true.  Fuck you!

12 May 2015
  216-350-9030  Cleveland, OH - Apparently, these guys just call people, let the phone ring for one or tow rings, then disconnect.  What fucking purpose is that for?  Obviously, I do not know anyone in the Cleveland area and most others who have received calls from this number conclude that this is a telemarketer.  Fuck you!

13 May 2015
  310-849-5417  Beverly Hills, CA - While this seems to be a legit number, possibly wrong number.  Recent events have lead me to believe that this is a routed call.  Such as shame as I am sure the owners of this number (if legit) are nice people.  Anyway, fuck you!

15 May 2015
  310-849-9946  Beverly Hills, CA - Second call from this number, see top entry.  Again, originally thought to be a legit wrong number.  But why call a second time?  Especially, if you listen to my outgoing message.  There should be no mistaken whom you have called if you 'accidentally' call me.  What kind of an asshole does not double check a number?  Better yet, what fucking asshole, knowing that the number they called two weeks ago is wrong...calls again?  Fuck you!

   505-395-9131  Santa Fe, NM - Apparently, the "Federal Bureau of Investigation needs to contact me regarding some tax criminal whatever thing."  Also, "there are agents heading to my address right now".  If you remember, there were a few of these calls last month, during tax season.  Fuck you!

   505-395-9134  Santa Fe, NM - Really?  You are just going to change the last number and call me again?  Come on, you lazy fuck.  Are you telling me the "FBI" cannot get a better number to call me from?  One would think that the FBI would be calling me from...oh, maybe Washington DC.

Good try, but similar to how the real FBI does not negotiate with terrorists...I do not negotiate with robo-telemarketers.  Patiently waiting for the next call.  Fuck you!

  505-395-9132  Santa Fe, NM - Seriously, look at the last three numbers.  All three of  these numbers, no doubt from the same "FBI" office, left the same robo message.  Pretty sure if the FBI was looking for me they could find me. Heck, a fucking mall cop can find me.

Obviously, they are using scare tactics to phish for your information.  Unfortunately, (I am guessing) some have been tricked by these assholes.  The closest FBI headquarters to me is not in New Mexico, so I have no idea why a robo agent would be calling me from almost 1000 miles away.  Fuck you!

Only telemarketers call me

Update:  When I went home, there were no federal agents waiting for me.  I know, shocking.

18 May 2017
  323-454-2976  Los Angeles, CA - Well, not an "IRS" or "FBI" call.  But, still a fucking telemarketer.  Fuck you!

19 May 2017
  310-849-7426  Beverly Hills, CA - Oh, Beverly Hills...should I be impressed?  Fuck you!

21 May 2017
  310-849-1573  Beverly Hills, CA - Last two calls coming from the "Beverly Hills" area.  This call like some telemarketing calls, left no message.  I would say that about half are no messages and the other half is automated robo messages...never a human or a legit call.  Pretty sure I have received many calls from the 310-849 area code and prefix.  I do not trust those numbers. Fuck you!

25 May 2017
  401-283-0707  Providence, RI - Another "IRS" call.  Same recording as last time, but with different number to call back.  I like how they use buzz words like "tax fraud", "legal action", "arrest", etc.  Oh, I should mention that this is a robo call with a female voice...a fembot, if you will.  Yeah, baby.  I wonder if fembot is hot.  Do other electronics get off on that robovoice?  So, if I play the recorded message to my toaster, will the toast pop up faster?  I am going to take a wild guess and say there are no agents at my door right now...and this is a scam.  Fuck you!

26 May 2017
  940-392-9473  Bryson, TX - Possibly a wrong number, most likely a telemarketer.  Fuck you!

27 May 2017
  310-849-7283  Beverly Hills, CA - As mentioned, looks like that 310-849 area code and prefix has been taken over by telemarketers.  I thought Beverly Hills was supposed to be a plush area.  Champagne wishes, caviar dreams, and now telemarketing headquarters.  Fuck you!

30 May 2017
  310-849-9946  Beverly Hills, CA - Ah, a return caller.  Check out the first call of the month at top of this post...also called on the 15th of the month. Yep, same asshole.  One would think that after the first 'wrong number', you would double check the number.  Nope, that called a second time.

Well, this is the third call this month.  So, safe to say that this is a telemarketer call, with it most likely being a routed call. Fuck you!

  412-897-9473  Pittsburgh, PA - I know these are calls being routed through 'legit' numbers.  Usually, searches will red flag a telemarketer number.  With routed numbers, that is not the case.  Besides, who in Pittsburgh is going to call me.  Fuck you!

  262-671-9473  Kenosha, WI -  This one is weird. The call went directly to my voicemail. It just showed up only in voicemail and never came in as a call.  Really what is the point?  If you are trying to reach an audience with cold calls, why only tap in to the voicemail?  I only caught the very last part of the automated message, "press one now".  That was it?  You would have had a better chance of getting my attention with a regular call.  Instead, I find a small useless message from you two weeks later.  Fuck you!

Fitness Trackers - Fitbit Alta HR vs Nike Fuelband

Fitbit Alta HR

For the past few weeks, I have been wearing the Fitbit Alta HR and really loving it.  I have been using fitness trackers for a few years now.  Specifically, I wore the Nike Fuelband for over three years.  So, this will be a review of the Alta HR and a comparison to Nike's Fuelband.  Keep in mind that the Alta just came out and has way more features than the discontinued five year old Fuelband.

One of the reasons why I made the switch, other than receiving the Alta HR as a gift, my Nike Fuelband failed...again.  Since the Nike fitness tracker is discontinued, there really is no support for their Apps and operating system.  Once my Fuelband stopped working, obviously, I stopped wearing it.  For six months, I did not have a way to 'track my fitness'. While it was a relief to not have to reach 2000 NikeFuel points, I kinda miss knowing how much I moved.

Nike Fuelband - discontinued

Now, I mention failure of my Fuelband.  One day, it just crapped out, and I could not sync my data.  The only thing I could do was reset the band to factory setting, losing data since last sync.   Well, that breaks my streak of 1133 days....argh!  I was not going to start over.

The other issue with the Fuelband is the button.  I have spent a lot of time and tried various ways to repair the damn button.  I went through three bands and without failure, the button will fail.  The problem is, it is a physical button, a moving part...which will wear down after a few hundred pushes. Add to that, the silicone will also wear down and tear.  Eventually, you will have no button and will not be unable to access the information on the band.

Tap to activate.

With the Fitbits, one just taps the unit to access information.  Depending on the model, you can get information on steps, calories, active time, heart rate, battery life, etc.  Most of the Fitbit trackers do not have moving parts (buttons).

By the way, I should mention that all the images in this post were stolen from the internet.  I am too lazy to take my own photos...although, I should as it may earn me more steps.  If I borrowed your image and you have an issue with it, let me know and I will replace it with another one from the internet.

As mentioned, I have the Alta HR, it has a 'quick glance' feature.  Bring up the band to view and it displays watch and heart rate (by default). Other fitness trackers also have this feature.  I love this feature.

Charging and syncing Fuelband

The battery life of the Alta HR is about seven days, which is the same is the Fuelband.  Charging the two units is a little different.  The Fuelband can be plugged straight into a laptop or USB charging unit.  Usually, you will need an extension cord (included) to charge.  This is also the only way to sync your data to your account.

Charging the Fitbit Alta HR requires a goofy looking clip.  The charger clamps on to your tracker like it is biting the Alta HR.

Charger clamp

Not an elegant design, but hey, you only need to charge once every week.  Charging time is a few hours.  As with the most electronic devices, I let them charge overnight.  You can sync the Alta HR with the cable...or you can sync it via Bluetooth.  What!  Yeah, that is 'new tech' for me.  It has Bluetooth.

The Fuelband does not have Bluetooth, but it is no fault of Nike as it is an old system.  Obviously, there are many features that the Fuelband does not have because of cost and technology. From here, I will discuss and review the 'new' features of the Alta HR.

Alerts for calls, texts, and calendar

In addition to wireless syncing, the Bluetooth allows you to get alerts from your phone.  This includes calls, texts, and calendar events.  I like this feature.  I can set my phone to silent and quickly take a glance to see who is calling or texting.  Neat feature!  The unit it self will vibrate when an event from your phone occurs.  When you lift your wrist, the Alta HR will display who the call/text is coming from.  Only the first forty characters of a text will show, but at least you know who it was from.  This is great for screening calls or if you are in a meeting and do not want to get 'caught' looking at your phone.  I have not tried the calendar feature, yet...I am not that important.  But, I imagine it is the same.

The vibrating function is also used to give you reminders to move.  The tracker encourages you to move every hour, at least 250 steps.  About ten minutes to the hour, you will get a little buzz, encouraging you to move.  If you get your 250 for that hour, another buzz lets you know mission accomplished.

Reaching the goal of 10,000 steps a day (default) will also buzz the unit.  A little animation will be displayed on the screen to celebrate.

Fitbit Alta HR

The 'main' feature of the Alta HR is the continuous heart rate monitor.  The two green lights magically measures the wearer's heart rate.  The heart rate is displayed on the default screen with a little heart icon that tells you which zone you are in, it also displays resting heart rate when you scroll through the display.  Because it constantly monitors the heart rate, it can be used to analyse sleep.  Along with your exercise activity, you can view your sleep pattern through the app.

Back to the Fuelband for a second.  The Fuelband was a fixed semi-rigid shape.  It could be uncomfortable at times, say if you were wearing with slashguards, playing hockey.   The Alta HR has a soft rubber strap with buckle closure.  Not fancy enough for you?  The strap is interchangeable.  There are a variety of straps and bracelets available for the Alta HR, everything from rubber, leather, metal...you can even get one that looks like a traditional watch with a round dial.  Yep, accessories that cost more than the base unit.

Features

I have yet to wear the new Alta HR and play hockey with it.  It does feel like it has a better sensor and may track my 'efforts' when playing a game.  With the Fuelbnad, I got about 600 NikeFuel points a game...which is about the same as an hour of yoga.  I am curious to see how this Fitbit tracks hockey movements.  I might even get back on the bike and see how that tracks.

If you are looking for a fitness tracker, check out the Fitbit Alta HR. Ha, not like you can get a Nike Fuelband.  Those might be collector's items one day.