Anyone out there?

Just checking to see if anyone is still following this Blog?
Rant for the day: I just got a really lame apology from Netflix founder on why they are destroying their business and separating their DVD and Streaming sides, Netflix will be the streaming side and the old standby DVD by mail side will be re-branded Qwickflix (or something like that). It seems like customer service is a thing of the past! Netflix had a great idea, and they improved it by modernizing into streaming, they had been great with customer service (if a movie had issues they would send an extra in your Que, since you pay by the month not per movie). When they added streaming it only had old stuff and a few new movies and TV series, the band width was ok, but occasionally slowed (likely on customer end). Then they teamed with console systems to add it to their internet connection (Wii, XBox, PS3, and new TVs).Then they got the bright idea to raise the rates, since they weren't making enough money. Now they have decided to charge equally for DVDs or Streaming (no discount for both), and split the services (now you have two Ques which are not linked) and charge you separately. Might as well get a different service, since the only reason to keep their crappy streaming was the fact that they were linked.
Rant #2: USAA has also become a member of the "we don't care about the customer anymore" club. I have been banking with them for several years and have been on again off again insurance customers (GEICO has better rates currently), but I had found it convenient to get my mortgage through them and insure the house also. Well that changed this last few months. I had not been happy with their insurance department again after my laptop took a drop and they would not cover it (despite having specific insurance for computers). Then I went to buy a new house. I checked in with Buyer's Advantage and had them recommend a Real estate Agent (I had had good luck the first time I used them, and bad luck when I did not), they hooked me up with a guy that seemed to know the area and we eventually found a house that met all our needs (after we made some modifications to the build plan). We entered into a contract with the builder and started the loan process (after getting pre-approved first). My agent posted the contract and I went to USAA's web site to view it, at that time I called and asked what else I needed to do. They passed me around to a few different departments (insurance, life insurance, and I thought mortgage). They told me they would send me additional paperwork, and would be in touch. Unfortunately I was also dealing with a refinance (through another bank) of my other property to take advantage of the low rates, and things got a little confusing who I was talking with at any given time. My agent was trying to keep Mover's advantage informed where we were, but apparently they aren't connected to Mortgage or anyone else at USAA. The builder was speeding along to get the house complete by the closing, and I called a few Weeks before because I had not received anything else from USAA. Well, they claimed they had not received anything from me (contract, loan paperwork, insurance....) and the earliest they could close would be 45 days. I should have walked away from them right then, but I thought they might work with me, since they did have much of the paperwork already (they just did not know where it was) and maybe they could speed up the closing. Well, not only would they not adjust the closing, they also would not return e-mails, or phone calls from myself or my Real estate agent. If all goes well, we will finally close 27 September, and I will then start looking for someone else to move all my accounts to, unless they grovel and apologize profusely. The original contract was signed 5 July and sent to them that evening. We have been living in a hotel for three months plus (left FLKS on 24 June), the house was completed 26 August on the original closing date.
The US not only has a employment issue and debt crisis, but the few businesses that are surviving have thrown out what made them great and ignored customer service.
Rant over.
Hope everyone is settling in to their new jobs, and enjoying them!
J.R.