L.A. City Officals Respond to rate increase Just one day after Adelphia announced a 6 % rate increase(see News 8/9/02) Mayor Hahn and a member of the City Council have asked Adelphia to abandon their plans of a increase and guarantee high-speed Internet and data connections » www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-r···usiness"Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn and Councilman Jack Weiss sent a letter to Adelphia Communications Corp. urging the troubled cable company to abandon a plan to increase rates. "In light of the many issues that have eroded consumer confidence in Adelphia, we urge you to withdraw your request to increase current subscription rates," the officials said in the letter to Erland Kailbourne, the company's interim chief executive. The officials cited Adelphia's recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the federal arrest of Adelphia's founder and his sons on federal charges of bilking shareholders and looting the company coffers, and a civil lawsuit by the Securities and Exchange Commission in calling the rate increase proposal "ill-advised." On Wednesday, the City Council called for any future agreements with Adelphia for city cable franchises to include guarantees of high-speed Internet and data connections, which Weiss said were promised to subscribers but have never been delivered."
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 Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY | The Question Is.... Why in the hell would Adelphia need to raise rates anyway. At the current rates, there was enough money for the Regas' to steal billions and still run Adelphia in a reasonable manner. The way I see it, Adelphia sure as hell better start doing some HUGE upgrades and service improvements that can be seen across the board or they're going down in flames over this.
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Don't Ask Me, You Might Not Like My Answer | |
|  |  hobgoblinSortof AgoblinPremium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
kudos:4 | Re: The Question Is.... Hickerx lost track when he posted
"Why in the hell would Adelphia need to raise rates anyway. At the current rates, there was enough money for the Regas' to steal billions and still run Adelphia in a reasonable manner. "
Allegedly Hicker. Allegedly.
Plus they borrowed Billions which is where the debt is.
Hob
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"Serenity now! Serenity now!" "What is that?" "The doctor gave me a relaxation cassette. When my blood pressure gets too high, the man on the tape tells me to say 'serenity now!'" "Are you supposed to yell it?" "The man on the tape wasn't specific." | |
| | | Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY | Re: The Question Is.... said by hobgoblin:
Allegedly Hicker. Allegedly.
Plus they borrowed Billions which is where the debt is.
Well, let's forgo the Constitution for this discussion. You're right, they borrowed billions, which was subsequently spent on golf courses, furniture stores, etc, etc, etc. We also know that above and beyond the "borrowing", they removed funds for personal use. That is theft.
Did Adelphia raise rates 25-35% to pay back this debt? If so, what happens to the seized assets and the assets and restitution monies when they are convicted? Something's not right. You can follow blindly if you wish but I want to know exactly how much money is going where. Like I said, I really think that some sweeping improvements better take place with their service or they're going down in flames.
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Don't Ask Me, You Might Not Like My Answer | |
| | | | hobgoblinSortof AgoblinPremium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
kudos:4 | Re: The Question Is.... Hicker in a blind rage could not wait to post
"Well, let's forgo the Constitution for this discussion"
Forgo the constitution..? I hope you did not mean that.
Here's my view. It is alleged that the Rigas family withdrew money from a Cash management fund that was set up by them. They also paid money into the cash management fund. It is alleged that some of this money may have been misused. Unless you have seen the actual books then "we" don't know anything other than what is alleged. Whether it is theft or not is purely a hypothesis until the actual books and the Rigas's defence is revealed in a court of law.
Hicker then continued
"Did Adelphia raise rates 25-35% to pay back this debt?"
The rate increase reported in this news Item which I am sure we are talking about is 6%. It was a planned increase
The City Attorney is quoted as saying
"The Federal Communications Commission "gives every cable company the right to raise their rates once a year based on a standardized formula," he said. "They filed a notice well before all these troubles came to light, back in March"
So the increase was planned and documented before the current wave of Corporate Paranoia set in.
If you care to do a search on Google you will find most other cable companies have been raising rates above the rate of inflation this year. Increased programming costs is the main reason.
Here is a quote from Dan Novak, Cox's vice president of programming and public affairs
"sports programming costs are rising as much as 15 percent. The sports channels say they must charge more because broadcast rights for sporting events are increasing as well. This year, ABC and ESPN agreed to pay $2.4 billion for rights to broadcast NBA games for the next six years. That's equivalent to ESPN's revenue for one year."
So...there is your reason..Its a annual raise made necessary by the increased cost in programming being passed on to the consumer.
Hicker then took leave of his senses when he said
"You can follow blindly if you wish but I want to know exactly how much money is going where."
and what business is it of yours. This topic has been discussed in great detail before. Its not your business. When Adelphia produce their annual report you can get a copy and peruse it. Paying whatever you pay for TV and internet service gives you no other right other than that of receiving your service. What Adelphia does with its money is its and the stockholders business.
He then finished off with this dramatic line
"Like I said, I really think that some sweeping improvements better take place with their service or they're going down in flames."
Something like the sweeping improvement you saw a few weeks ago...like the sweeping improvement in Ashburn...Like the 1000's of satisfied customers in CA notice their sweeping improvements....like the addition of the YES Network for Baseball fans...Like the reduction of the call times in Tech Support....Like the addition of top of the line Cuda Boxes in many areas....I could go on but you get the point.
Anyway...I am finished with you today..
I am off to drink beer.
As That little kid said in the Movie the Sixth Sense
"I see Drunk people"
Hob
--
"Serenity now! Serenity now!" "What is that?" "The doctor gave me a relaxation cassette. When my blood pressure gets too high, the man on the tape tells me to say 'serenity now!'" "Are you supposed to yell it?" "The man on the tape wasn't specific." | |
| | | | | | | Re: The Question Is.... Quote:
"Adelphia spokesman Eric Andrus said. "We adjusted the rate for the enhanced program choices we are giving our customers as well as advanced services that they very much expect, such as high-speed Internet access and digital cable."
Andrus said he didn't know which enhancements had been added to the basic service but cited movie and sports offerings."
First of all, I am in downtown LA. We are not even close to having cable internet available. Don't blame it on the city government either. The last time I talk to a contractor, he would not give me a timetable since hardly any work had been done in my area. Of course, this was before the financial troubles.
The spokesman, Andrus, also stated there were movie and sports enhancements to basic cable. Well, that's a flat out lie. On the notice, there were two additions: The Travel Channel and a local UHF station they introduced during the last "improvement". I wonder how much the Travel Channel is paying Adelphia for that slot. In that last "improvement" notice, Adelphia also had the nerve to celebrate the arrival of KHSN(HSN), a channel that been on the system for roughly 20 years. Of course, this crap is nothing new since Adelphia claimed increased programming costs when Fox News and Animal Planet first arrived even though the channels were paying the cable company for placement.
As I have stated before, Adelphia and other cable companies have agreements were they can raise rates a certain percentage during a time period. Adelphia has always raised the prices at the maximum allowed. As they have shown, they simply invent excuses to justify the increases. Probably the only way to stop this garbage is strong competition or reregulation. | |
| | | | |  SOLdesignDid I drink a shot of Irrational Whore?Premium
join:2002-07-29
Woodland Hills, CA | ok, I know I am probably about to get whacked...
however...
I will be glad to pay higher rates when our service is consistent. One day, its really good, the next, no email, no connection.
Until then, I will be calling for my refund every month. So far, every rebate I have requested has shown up as a credit the next month. Until the service is decent, I will keep asking for money back, no matter how much they raise the rates. I suggest if you have bad service, document it. Call in to the office and request a credit.
Ok, the blond is done now. //sending HOB a fine microbrewery beer so he does not slam me too hard!// | |
| | | | | Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY | said by hobgoblin:
It is alleged that the Rigas family withdrew money from a Cash management fund that was set up by them. They also paid money into the cash management fund. It is alleged that some of this money may have been misused.
LMAO, You should change your name to "Fluffy"
Yes, they were charged with "paying too much money to Adelphia"...LMMFAO
Since you are incapable of having an objective conversation, you should just go and drink more Miller Lite!
BTW, fixing issues in Franklinville and Ashburn do not constitute vast sweeping improvements.
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Don't Ask Me, You Might Not Like My Answer | |
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| | |  SkellBasherYes Sorto, I'll take my Prozac
join:2000-10-22
Niagara Falls, NY | If anything, I feel that as a stockholder of Adelphia, I have a definite right to know where the money went. As far as a rate increase, I've gotten notices of rate increases from Adelphia right around this time for about 5 years, even before the SEC is 'alledging' that Adelphia's accounting began to be written in Crayola. I know that the G.D. YES (Yankee Entertainment and Sports) channel added a good chunk to our rates locally, which I don't really like as
1. I hate baseball.
2. I hate the Yankees.
I've been reading all the SEC filings regarding the Adelphia mess (great reading for the 'other' office), and from what I can tell, I think now that the dysfunctional family known as the Rigas' is out, the company is going to bounce out of this. Talking to a few employees that I know, they've said that John and the kids had to have their hands in EVERYTHING for the last few years, and the new management is running the place as a corporation, not a 5 and Dime on Main street in Boonieville, PA.
I shorted their stock on the way down to cut my losses, and I'm buying more now, based on research, not blind faith. | |
| | | | | Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY | Re: The Question Is.... Yes, Nwfalc, that was my point exactly. I am a shareholder in Adelphia also. My rates went up 16% by my math. The modem lease used to be included in the $39.95/mo rate. They rebated $10 back if you owned your modem. That rebate is now gone (that's a $10/mo increase) and has been replaced with a $5 modem lease fee. The PL service went up $3 if I remember correctly. The cable rates also went up $3 if I remember correctly. 16% is a far cry from the 6% that Adelphia claims. I didn't see anywhere where they said "We're going to roll the $10 modem lease into your rate and add another $5 lease fee". Nowhere did they ever mention that they were increasing your bill by $10/mo which is exactly what they did. They were totally deceptive even about a rate increase. I don't share your opinion that they will bounce back. The "new" management is trying to make it's customers pay for all of the Regas' pillaging. I want an explanation as a shareholder, where all this money is being spent. The Regas' will undoubtedly be handing over a substantial amount of money when they are convicted or cop a plea. Plus, the sale of assets such as the Sabres, will create revenue that will go somewhere. I just don't see the rosy picture you do. I'm pretty sure there will be no refunds issued. I agree that the Regas' were the sole cause of Adelphia's dire straits, and there isn't much anybody can do to straighten out what they've done, but I don't agree that the new management will bring this company back. Investor confidence still doesn't show any improvement. With Adelphia's stock price so low, and the upswing in the DOW over the last few days, you should see some interest, and I don't. The stock is still trading at what I bought it for over a month ago. Just my view, maybe it's farked up.
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Don't Ask Me, You Might Not Like My Answer | |
| | | | | |  cbyrdWhere's The Any Key?
join:2001-07-11
Murfreesboro, NC | Re: The Question Is.... For many areas, this is the 2nd Powerlink rate increase in less than 12 months.
"That's all I have to say about that"
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Powerlink, your reason for dialup | |
| | | | | | hobgoblinSortof AgoblinPremium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
kudos:4 | Hicker posted the following in this thread
"My rates went up 16% by my math."
and
"Did Adelphia raise rates 25-35% to pay back this debt?"
come on...at least post consistently
Hob | |
| | | | | | |  RR ConductorHappy 40th AmtrakPremium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
kudos:1 | Re: The Question Is.... Something is fishy about all of this. How can they come into a rural county like mine(Mendocino, Pop.84,000, dominated by Lumber, Tourism, and Vineyards)and in less than 2 years, spend tens of millions of dollars, lay fiber everywhere, and bring digital cable and Powerlink service to most of the population, yet in the huge city of LA(I was born and raised in SO CAL, West Covina), they are still waiting for upgrades? We're in the same management area, region, etc. as SO CAL, so it seems to me the City of Los Angeles is to blame here, either that, or Adelphia in SO CAL is a completely different beast than up here. For all the backwardness of this county, somebody did something right to get Adelphia to do all these upgrades. I plan on moving back to SO CAL in the near future, I would like to stay with Adelphia, so I hope they get all of this worked out, though most of these problems seem to be in LA, and not the County.
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Ship by Rail! | |
| | | | | | | |  Jackson$Need It Wrecked? 1-800-Marine
join:2001-11-17
Buffalo, NY | Re: The Question Is.... "Something is fishy about all of this. How can they come into a rural county like mine(Mendocino, Pop.84,000, dominated by Lumber, Tourism, and Vineyards)and in less than 2 years, spend tens of millions of dollars, lay fiber everywhere, and bring digital cable and Powerlink service to most of the population, yet in the huge city of LA"
Less Polititians and thugs needed to be greased. Its easier to setup shoppe in suburbia then in the downtown area.
After reading the memorandums Em And mac fought over... Think about it. Businesses will go where the LEAST amount of resistence and easiest profits are made.
Dave | |
| | | | | | | | |  IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 |  Re: The Question Is....
Wow! You actually read them? | |
| | | | | | | | | | Jackson$Need It Wrecked? 1-800-Marine
join:2001-11-17
Buffalo, NY | Re: The Question Is.... said by emhinkes:
"After reading the memorandums Em And mac fought over... Think about it."
Wow! You actually read them?
Yep. It was disgusting. 2 sides in an agrument that couldn't even agree what day it was. Could have made a new episode of 'CatDog' out of it  | |
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| | | | | | | | RR ConductorHappy 40th AmtrakPremium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
kudos:1 | True, but this area can be pretty anti business sometimes, especially when it comes to Cellular Towers, laying Fiber, etc. Our local paper even ran a front page article about people in Ukiah complaining how "ugly" the Adelphia peds and boxes looked in their "pretty" yards, give me a break.
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Ship by Rail! | |
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| | | | | | Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY | said by hobgoblin:
come on...at least post consistently
I was being as conservative as absolutely possible. Some areas, according to this forum, increased even more than we did. Giving Adelphia the benefit of the doubt, and being ultra-conservative to quash you eminent bogus argument, it's still 16%.
We're still waiting for your bogus validation for what they've done. 16% is nearly 300% higher than they claim....period. Is this the "new" Adelphia you tout so often? The honest and caring "new" Adelphia to whom you are attached at the hip?
Let's hear it hob. Let's hear why this is totally normal and acceptable. If you can find time between your posts about how the Regas' got railroaded, I'd be interested in your excuses...they always make me laugh.
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Don't Ask Me, You Might Not Like My Answer | |
| | | | | | | | SkellBasherYes Sorto, I'll take my Prozac
join:2000-10-22
Niagara Falls, NY | Re: The Question Is.... I thought you two had kissed and made up..... | |
| | | | | | | | | Jackson$Need It Wrecked? 1-800-Marine
join:2001-11-17
Buffalo, NY | Re: The Question Is.... Naw.. They didn't kiss and 'make-up'.. I don't think their drag queens
Dave | |
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| | | | | | | hobgoblinSortof AgoblinPremium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
kudos:4 | Hicker reminded me of a large dog chasing his own tail when he said
"We're still waiting for your bogus validation for what they've done. 16% is nearly 300% higher than they claim....period."
But Mr Hicker you are talking about your total percentage increase for Powerlink and Cable TV. Any Adelphia quotes have just been for the cable TV service period. You are comparing Apples and Oranges. Also in many areas in fact most areas there are packages available that cut the increase down.Its clear again that you are just full of wind without any real idea what you are talking about.
You are bandying about figures that make it look bad and are actually unable to justify them.
When you peruse one of your old bills tell me did you see a charge for your modem? I assume you are using an Adelphia one. Was the bill split down like that? or was it just a flat charge for Powerlink? I agree SOME areas allowed a $10 rebate for customers using their own modem but I always found that a little strange. It always seemed too large an amount, was hardly documented anywhere, did not apply to the advantage packages and was not available in all areas.
Your figures are flawed anyway. You are taking a hypothetical $10 off and adding $5 on to come up with your rant.
As a stockholder as you say you are you should be glad that Adelphia is trying to put in place solid well documented plans which hopefully include a national pricing plan.
I have no intention of debating any alleged Criminal activity with you. That can come later when we get to see the whole story instead of tabloid media discussion of which you are so fond of.
Hob
Watkins Glen here I come.
--
"Serenity now! Serenity now!" "What is that?" "The doctor gave me a relaxation cassette. When my blood pressure gets too high, the man on the tape tells me to say 'serenity now!'" "Are you supposed to yell it?" "The man on the tape wasn't specific." | |
| | | | | | | | | RR ConductorHappy 40th AmtrakPremium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
kudos:1 | Re: The Question Is.... Okay, everybody take a deep breath, count to ten, and calm down
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Ship by Rail! | |
| | | | | | | | | Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY | said by hobgoblin:
But Mr Hicker you are talking about your total percentage increase for Powerlink and Cable TV. Any Adelphia quotes have just been for the cable TV service period.
I see. So you now admit that the huge increase to the PL rates were unannounced? That seems quite honest and upstanding to me. said by hobgoblin:
Your figures are flawed anyway. You are taking a hypothetical $10 off and adding $5 on to come up with your rant.
So, you need more lessons in Arithmetic AND English? Hypothetical does not mean factual and nowhere did I add any $5 charge in my figures. You'd better figure again.
said by hobgoblin:
As a stockholder as you say you are you should be glad that Adelphia is trying to put in place solid well documented plans which hopefully include a national pricing plan.
Now you contradict yourself in the same post. Documented, undocumented, documented, undocumented, please settle on a single bogus argument in the future. When you make up so much stuff, you lose track of what you're saying.
I'm glad that you still have your knack for amusement.
said by hobgoblin:
I have no intention of debating any alleged Criminal activity with you. That can come later when we get to see the whole story instead of tabloid media discussion of which you are so fond of.
In keeping with your comedic tendencies, you call the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Associated Press, The LA Times, and scores of other well respected news organizations tabloids? You can do better than that, can't you...LMAO
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Don't Ask Me, You Might Not Like My Answer | |
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| dboyleFair Is Cotton Candy And Pink ElephantsPremium
join:2002-06-06
San Diego, CA | LA is complaining again. Why should they not receive rate increases, but everyone else should? My service was just as bad if not worse. I don't go around complaining that Adelphia wants more money to make service better. From the sounds of it there was no guarantee of high-speed Internet in their franchise agreement and with the moratorium, why does LA believe they have the right to complain? Just sounds like typical politicians looking for re-election.
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Problems with Adelphia in VA?Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) 1-804-786-2042, then 1, then 0 | |
| | | cbyrdWhere's The Any Key?
join:2001-07-11
Murfreesboro, NC | Re: The Question Is.... It's a free country, everyone has a right to bitch. However, I think some of their anger is mis-directed. It really does sound like the moratorium was what held up progress from the start.
I do believe the current rate increases are a textbook example of poor timing. Many of us already had our Powerlink bill increase once already in the last 12 months...and If I'm not mistaken, the digital package increased here about the same time. So we've had 2 rate increases in less than 12 months, yet the services (on the powerlink side) have gotten steadily worse, not better.
BTW, why does channel 117 (Toon Disney) now have what looks like a west coast feed of the E! channel? My kid was none too happy about that this morning.
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Powerlink, your reason for dialup | |
| | | | RR ConductorHappy 40th AmtrakPremium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
kudos:1 | Re: The Question Is.... We don't get Toon Disney here, which I am not too upset about. All I want is TV Land to be added here, then I can die happy
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Ship by Rail! | |
| | | | dsless
join:2001-05-16
Pittsburgh, PA | The rate increase is to cover hobs raise.............. | |
| | | | | RR ConductorHappy 40th AmtrakPremium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
kudos:1 | Re: The Question Is.... That was in pretty bad taste there Dsless.
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Ship by Rail! | |
| | | | | | SkellBasherYes Sorto, I'll take my Prozac
join:2000-10-22
Niagara Falls, NY | Re: The Question Is.... Agreed. I can understand messing with the Hobster if he earns it, but that one was below the belt. | |
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| | Jackson$Need It Wrecked? 1-800-Marine
join:2001-11-17
Buffalo, NY | "Just sounds like typical politicians looking for re-election"
If Em keeps his word, I bet theres a certain Cindy M. whos lookin up a VERY BIG hill for her council seat this time arround.
Em is like a pitbull and she kicked him. I think he knows that both sides ( Adelphia and the city ) have a share in the blame. I bet he taped Johnie and sons going to jail.. all he has to do is catch the news with Cindy M. loosing an election and we will hear him cheering on the east coast that night
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| | | | IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | Re: The Question Is.... Cindy M. is hopefully gonna go down in flames over this.... Her authored moratorium was total H.S..... What, a telecom box is gonna affect the migration of the spotted owl? Ridiculous.
So here's the deal: Here's what we the city expect you to do Adelphia, and here's a moratorium that keeps you from doing it....
I did cheer when the Rigas Clan went to jail.... but I forgot to tape it. I can't wait until Cindy M. gets the boot as well... I've certainly raised plenty of hell over this, and for a damn good reason IMHO.
Oh yes... you will hear cheering... Maybe you'll see me doing backflips down the street too.
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A proud card carrying member of the Right Wing Conspiracy. "I have spoken... There will be peace in the valley." | |
| | | | | Jackson$Need It Wrecked? 1-800-Marine
join:2001-11-17
Buffalo, NY | Re: The Question Is.... "Cindy M. is hopefully gonna go down in flames over this.... Her authored moratorium was total H.S..... What, a telecom box is gonna affect the migration of the spotted owl? Ridiculous."
Be wise.. Don't vote against her in contempt and for dumb things.. you might get the devil in return.. consider teh whole track record. If the Memo is a given example of how she is.. maby the Devil would be a better representation.. least ya know where ya stand from the get-go.
" did cheer when the Rigas Clan went to jail.... but I forgot to tape it."
Im mixed on this. I think the kids kept stuff from their pappy.. and now he has to live with it. On the flip side, you can get the trailers off the net of it
"I can't wait until Cindy M. gets the boot as well... I've certainly raised plenty of hell over this, and for a damn good reason IMHO."
DAMN good reasons! IMHO.
"Oh yes... you will hear cheering... Maybe you'll see me doing backflips down the street too."
Might be a time to try the new vidcam
Dave | |
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| | |  MacLeechThe one and onlyPremium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
kudos:3
| Now that the City of Los Angeles wants Adelphia to improve its cable service, instead of hider it by city council members endlessly extending anti-telecom moratoriums. Lets see how fast Emhinkes gets a cable modem, even with Adelphia in bankruptcy proceedings.
Officially the moratoriums ended May 25 and Adelphia delcared Chapter 11 June 25.
Anybody want to guess how much longer? 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year?
--
Check out Hobgoblin's cable modem tech links.
[text was edited by author 2002-08-14 19:18:29] | |
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See 10 replies to this post |
| YurDSL
join:2002-08-15
Huntersville, NC | said by Hickerx2:
In keeping with your comedic tendencies, you call the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Associated Press, The LA Times, and scores of other well respected news organizations tabloids? You can do better than that, can't you...LMAO
The Wall Street Journal - OK. Associate Press - well...
But The LA Times? Well respected? 75% tabloid at the least...
Butting in where I'm not invited/wanted again, but that was too funny to pass up! | |
| | | Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY | Re: The Question Is.... said by YurDSL:
But The LA Times? Well respected? 75% tabloid at the least...
Well, you might have me there.
I could name a dozen others that reported the same news that he calls "tabloids"...;)
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Don't Ask Me, You Might Not Like My Answer | |
| | | | YurDSL
join:2002-08-15
Huntersville, NC | Re: The Question Is.... | |
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