Avoiding iPhone 3GS upgrade

Having lived with the first generation iPhone for almost 2 years, I'm ready for a new phone. My reason for a new phone however has nothing to do with technology, but pricing. I don't mind the higher entry prices for some of these phones. What's starting to bother me are the monthly fees of these phones.

I've narrowed down my heaviest used apps for the iPhone. Google maps and the search function, Browser, iPod functions for music and video. That's it. Everything else is kinda used once in a while, but those 3 functions I do use a lot. I barely use the camera because it blows, and would want a better camera in a new phone.

So AT&T is putting me over a barrel for their service, and I've almost had enough. In fact, I'm annoyed with all of my monthly service charges. So, it's time to consolidate. I've chosen Verizon as the lesser evil to deal with (potentially). Here's the deal. Apparently they do this thing with Direct TV which I can bundle with them for a lower cost. Ok, sounds good so far. I can package my wireless and internet with them and save a bit... ok, still good. I think I still need my land line, and they said they could bundle that as well. So basically my entire media existence would be handled by Verizon. So far so good right? Well, not quite.

Dear Verizon Wireless... your phones absolutely blow. You must have employed a soggy tennis ball to choose your phones because your entire line sucks. There's no way I can move from an iPhone to whatever the hell you have to offer... unless.



HTC is releasing the HTC Hero later this year in the US. It's just been released in the UK and it's awesome. This isn't an iPhone killer but it certainly is a fair substitute. It's better than anything Verizon has, unless they were smart enough to pick this up from HTC. Look, Sprint, which has been well known as the retarded uncle of cell companies somehow pulled the Palm Pre out of it's soiled shorts. The Palm Pre is excellent. So please Verizon, fire the soggy tennis ball and add the HTC Hero to your line. Even T-Mobile has a decent Andriod phone. T-Mobile!

Verizon, if you do this, I am willing to consolidate all my digital nonsense with you. You would provide cell, land line, internet and television. If I don't see the HTC Hero in your inventory... I'm getting a 3GS. Not because I want to, but because you made me do it Verizon... you made me.

The 80's

So the death of Michael Jackson prompted me to download a bunch of his music from iTunes. I also downloaded stuff from Janet, and a few music videos. As I watched some of the early videos, feelings of how awesome the 80's were started to bubble to the surface. They seemed like happier times, and some how so much more fun. At least, that's how I remembered it and I think it's reflected in the pop culture that was left in it's wake.

Now it's 2009 and unemployment is on track to reach and push past 10%. And no matter what the numbers say, it does feel pretty bad out there. Everyone has been touched by this recession or knows someone who has. You see, it feels different in a really bad way this time. And what I mean by this time is when I compare it to the 80's. We were in a pretty bad recession then as well. Now, I don't know if it's because I was looking at the 80's from a kids perspective, but it just doesn't seem as doomy and gloomy as it does now.

So take note. It's different this time around. The old adage of buy and hold in the market, invest wisely for retirement... it's wrong. These old investment practices that we held so true are starting to turn into old wives tales. Underwater home values ensure that you're largest asset, your home, isn't anymore. It's your largest liability. And as we endure two wars and increasing domestic and city violence at home, the present just looks even more and more alien to the 80's.

So, for the first time in my life I can honestly say I have no idea where I'm heading. I'm throwing out my old guide books to life without any new guidance to take its place. But somehow I feel like I have to, only because those old adages feel so poisoned now. It's time to write your own guide books.

For all the things I'm not sure about, there is this I'm positive about. The economy is going to get worse this year. We'll be lucky if things level out near the end of 2010. Bunker down, avert risk, and watch each step.

Jesus, the 80's recession was so much more fun. I wish I could go on an Escapade.

Fatty fat, fat.

Ok, looks like I didn't escape the large lunch again. Bad, bad, bad! Going to really trim down dinner tonight. Must be careful since Americans seem to be getting fatter again this year. Apparently Mississippi has a 32.5 percent obesity rate among their adults. That is one fat state. Now, I get that some people are fat or portly. It just happens sometimes. But 32.5 percent of your adult population being obese? That's like 1 in every 3 people are obese! I can't tell if this is a problem, or an economic opportunity to cater to the whims of fat people.

Well, the NIH seems to think this is a problem. Increased health care costs created by obesity may bankrupt the health care system. If you want to see if you're doing your part in destroying America, calculate your BMI.

Too much food

Ever have too big a lunch or dinner or meal in general? Sure you have. In fact, I've just had a meal that was over sized for my comfort. There's always this need to eat more than you should, and I try to stay alert for this trap. I try to avoid eating too much per meal because it just leaves me in this super sleepy state of uselessness. About 20 minutes after my lunch today I was rendered sleepy and remorseful. But feeling sorry about the extra chicken I had won't help me. Walking a couple of laps around the track nearby will, and I would if problem #2 didn't exist.

Problem #2... why is it so hot today. The sun is out and pelting radiation here and there. Will someone please invent the outdoor air conditioner. I just don't do well in the heat, especially if it's humid. There's nothing worse than being all hot outside, then coming into an air conditioned environment only to have the cool air turn you into a wet noodle in your chair. Your clothes get all soggy, and then everything just feels too cold. Going outside is a loosing battle. You can't win.

Lesson for today: eat less chicken and don't go outside.

It's been a while

Holy cowsers, it's been a while since I've posted. Sorry... was busy with a good dash of lazy. Anyways, things that have happened since the last posting. A new iPhone is out, the 3GS. Apple seems to be pumping out revisions like crazy. The Gaza strip hasn't gotten that much better, and North Korea is even crazier than ever, but now with nuclear toys.

As for the state of the economy, still crappy. California just reached 11.5 percent unemployment which apparently is the highest level recorded in modern history. Higher than the Great Depression? Someone's going to have to check on that figure.

I was thinking, maybe around 10% unemployment is the new normal. It could be that it's just how things are going to be as we enter some kind of new territory. Seems like the market and the economy as a whole is evolving into this new form which no one seems to have a handle on yet. In the end, it's just too many people with too few jobs fueled by ever dwindling innovation.

Gaza War

Not the best way to ring in the new year. The picture above shows a Palestinian man mourning the death of his two sons and a nephew. They were killed by an Israeli tank shell early Monday. Israel will continue the attacks aimed at weakening Hamas, and halting all rocket fire into its territory. While these two factions slug it out, innocents get killed. Not sure what to say.

F*ck you federal reserve

Thanks you bunch of asshats for completely screwing up Christmas for planet earth, you bunch of bumbling, retarded, inbred geriatric rapists. If you're not sure of what my opinion of you is, let me make it clear... I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU ALL SO VERY VERY MUCH! Are you guys kidding me? This Madoff blows through possibly $50billion, and no one, including the SEC was the wiser? Holy cow f*ck! Are you kidding me?! And why oh why are we printing $8.5 trillion to sell off as bonds? We're now Mexico. Thanks Federal Reserve. Thanks for making the US dollar the new Peso in 4-6 months. And why the cluster F are we printing $8.5 trillion? If I were to buy all the bad mortgages in the US, it would cost around $970 billion. I'm no math wiz here like you Harvard boys, but what the hell is the other $7.5 trillion for? That much money literally pays for 80% of ALL MORTGAGES in the US.

I hate you Federal Reserve with all my heart. I hate you UAW, I hate you SEC, I hate every last hedge fund manager out there. I don't care if you're a legit fund manager, you're still scum.

$8.5 trillion. PLEEEEEEEEASE... can we put someone in the government that understands basic math. Oh, did you hear that... yeah, that was the sound of Christmas dying.

God my 2009 taxes are going to go up so much :( I may just not f*cking pay. I didn't sign up to have assholes manage my money.