Given how much fun I had with 30 Days of Truth, I decided to start looking for something to do in September. I couldn't really find anything that interested me so I was gonna just continue spontaneous blogging. But then Anna recommended something she posted over at her blog. She found it here... The 30 Days of Me... and it looks pretty cool. So I'm gonna start with it tomorrow. One thing for every day in September. Sounded like a good match, right?
Here are the upcoming prompts...
Day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 2- the meaning behind you blog name
Day 3- a picture of you and your friends
Day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 5- a picture of somewhere youve been to
Day 6- favorite super hero and why
Day 7- a picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 8- short term goals for this month and why
Day 9- something youre proud of in the past few days
Day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
Day 11- another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one
Day 13- a letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- a picture of you and your family
Day 15- put you ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play
Day 16- another picture of yourself
Day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them
Day 20- someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future
Day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- what makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- something you crave for a lot
Day 24- a letter to your parents
Day 25- what I would find in your bag
Day 26- what do you think about your friends
Day 27- why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- a picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- in this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- your favorite song
Thanks, Anna for the referral :)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Proof of Fail
Well I can categorically now claim proof the AT&T Wireless's network is definately NOT the fastest 3G network around. Their infrastructure must TOTALLY suck if they call this speed 3G.
As some may know, I have an iPad... and yes, I bought the iPad 3G version. Not because of the wireless data antenna built in... but because of the GPS chip that was built in. Only way to get once of those is through the 3G models. The other WiFi only models only position you through some triangulation of signals... which is far less accurate. But I digress...
Anyways, I turned on the AT&T service for a month... just to see if it was more convenient to have it built in to the iPad... rather than use my cell phone. I have the Sprint HTC EVO 4G, though 4G service isn't yet available in Phoenix. It does have mobile hotspot capability though... so it turns it into a WiFi hub for up to 8 devices. So basically, it's Sprint's 3G Network via WiFi Mobile Hotspot... up against AT&T's 3G Network Built-In.
The Test? A NetFlix movie streaming down through the app. First up, the Sprint connection. I shut down the AT&T Wireless Data on the iPad and booted up the Mobile Hotspot. The iPad was all setup and good to go. Started Netflix, found a movie to stream (2012), and away we went. Too a little while to load... but after it was up... no stutter. None. Good on ya, Sprint.
Now AT&T. I shut down the WiFi hotspot and turned the AT&T Wireless back on. To started the Netflix app back up (after hitting the home button to make it a more even test)... and instantly noticed a difference. The app was slow to load my queue... and even slower still to buffer the movie. And finally when it did play, 30 seconds in it stopped... to buffer more. And it went on like this... and on... and on.
Conclusive proof that AT&T's network has to be the WORST 3G network around... and what's worse... the ONLY network that is available for iPhones and iPads. Way to go, Apple! Moral of the story? Don't waste your time getting a data plan for the iPads from AT&T. Just hook up to the Mobile Hotspots from Sprint.
Oh and did I mention costs? True AT&T does have a $14.95 a month plan with no contract... that gets you 250mb of downloaded data per month. Good if you're going emails... and not much else. They also offer a $24.95 plan... for 2GB of data per month. Slightly better... and still no contract. But guess what Sprint has? Mobile Hotspot option for the HTC EVO... $29.99 per month... UNLIMITED DATA... and still no contract other than your existing contract with the phone line already.
Sprint totally wins compared to AT&T...
As some may know, I have an iPad... and yes, I bought the iPad 3G version. Not because of the wireless data antenna built in... but because of the GPS chip that was built in. Only way to get once of those is through the 3G models. The other WiFi only models only position you through some triangulation of signals... which is far less accurate. But I digress...
Anyways, I turned on the AT&T service for a month... just to see if it was more convenient to have it built in to the iPad... rather than use my cell phone. I have the Sprint HTC EVO 4G, though 4G service isn't yet available in Phoenix. It does have mobile hotspot capability though... so it turns it into a WiFi hub for up to 8 devices. So basically, it's Sprint's 3G Network via WiFi Mobile Hotspot... up against AT&T's 3G Network Built-In.
The Test? A NetFlix movie streaming down through the app. First up, the Sprint connection. I shut down the AT&T Wireless Data on the iPad and booted up the Mobile Hotspot. The iPad was all setup and good to go. Started Netflix, found a movie to stream (2012), and away we went. Too a little while to load... but after it was up... no stutter. None. Good on ya, Sprint.
Now AT&T. I shut down the WiFi hotspot and turned the AT&T Wireless back on. To started the Netflix app back up (after hitting the home button to make it a more even test)... and instantly noticed a difference. The app was slow to load my queue... and even slower still to buffer the movie. And finally when it did play, 30 seconds in it stopped... to buffer more. And it went on like this... and on... and on.
Conclusive proof that AT&T's network has to be the WORST 3G network around... and what's worse... the ONLY network that is available for iPhones and iPads. Way to go, Apple! Moral of the story? Don't waste your time getting a data plan for the iPads from AT&T. Just hook up to the Mobile Hotspots from Sprint.
Oh and did I mention costs? True AT&T does have a $14.95 a month plan with no contract... that gets you 250mb of downloaded data per month. Good if you're going emails... and not much else. They also offer a $24.95 plan... for 2GB of data per month. Slightly better... and still no contract. But guess what Sprint has? Mobile Hotspot option for the HTC EVO... $29.99 per month... UNLIMITED DATA... and still no contract other than your existing contract with the phone line already.
Sprint totally wins compared to AT&T...
The Facebook of Hate...
I woke up to this long post stream about gay marriage and illegal immigration. Charged issues to be sure. I feel I need to comment though. But first... the original post... then some disclosures.
AMY is wondering why people in this country feel illegals should be treated equally, if not better, than its own American citizens, yet have a cow and do everything they can to ban gay marriages? It seems as a whole, the country looks down on our American gay population yet throws free education and welfare at those who don't even belong here. I don't get it. How are our own people being treated fairly?
Now the disclosures...
I am gay. I'm not out to many people for fear of being discriminated against or hated for what I really am. Though recently I have chosen to be more open about my life.
Secondly, I have had two incidents with illegal immigrants. Since 2000 I've been the victim of identity theft. My credit report continuously shows a "Juan Manriquez" and no matter how many times I try to get rid of them, they reappear. And then I get the creditors calling to collect on his passed due car loan and his foreclosed house! And the second incident is in 2005 where one crashed into the back of my truck, totaling it and then tried to get away. Luckily the witnesses held him at the scene until the cops arrived. But he still gave false information and to this day they can't find him. My back is still screwed up from the accident.
Now my comment...
I think the operative word here is illegal. As stated above... I have no problems with any races or nationalities crossing the border legally on work visas, student visas, etc. What I do take issue with is the pro-immigration groups and politicians playing word games and calling other illegal crossers "undocumented"... which is just a fancy term for "they didn't fill out the paperwork to be here legally"... which if reasoned to it's natural conclusion means they are here illegally and should have no rights or say under our laws. When a person commits a crime in this country, they are sent to jail and stripped of several rights. All of these so called "undocumented workers" have committed a crime the instant the crossed the border... and thus do not deserve any rights, consideration, or other benefits of their act. The should not profit from their initial crime of illegal entry. It would be like a burglar breaking into your home, eating your food, ringing up charges watching your pay-per-view, but then fixing your broken plumbing or painting your walls for you... and then expect to be rewarded despite them breaking in in the first place.
In regards to gay marriage, as a gay man it saddens me that I... an American citizen... cannot marry the person I live. It is an afront to my pursuit of happiness promised to me by our Declaration of Independence. Now I know that document is not an official guarantee of rights. But it does describe what the Founding Fathers had in mind. As does the constitution... which specifically separated the church from the state in this country. If anyone can show how gays and lesbians having the right to marry whomever the choose is detrimental to the country's well-being and not bring up a religious argument to back up their claims, I will listen willingly and try to understand your point of view. But I fear that this truly is a question of religion beginning to have more and more of a hold over the government.
One disclaimer I forgot... I am a Christian... a Lutheran from birth. I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I am a believer that all who believe in him are saved. I go to church every Sunday. I have to hide my homosexuality from the church so I do not get persecuted or expelled. I believe in their message for the most part. But it is my religion and no one else's. I do not force it upon other groups saying "You are going to hell". I do not use it to breed hate, discrimination, or social unrest simply because it's what my religion teaches.
We have a great nation... a nation built upon several freedoms. But every day, I fear our freedoms are being eaten away and replaced with hate towards it's citizens... and love towards it's criminals.
AMY is wondering why people in this country feel illegals should be treated equally, if not better, than its own American citizens, yet have a cow and do everything they can to ban gay marriages? It seems as a whole, the country looks down on our American gay population yet throws free education and welfare at those who don't even belong here. I don't get it. How are our own people being treated fairly?
Now the disclosures...
I am gay. I'm not out to many people for fear of being discriminated against or hated for what I really am. Though recently I have chosen to be more open about my life.
Secondly, I have had two incidents with illegal immigrants. Since 2000 I've been the victim of identity theft. My credit report continuously shows a "Juan Manriquez" and no matter how many times I try to get rid of them, they reappear. And then I get the creditors calling to collect on his passed due car loan and his foreclosed house! And the second incident is in 2005 where one crashed into the back of my truck, totaling it and then tried to get away. Luckily the witnesses held him at the scene until the cops arrived. But he still gave false information and to this day they can't find him. My back is still screwed up from the accident.
Now my comment...
I think the operative word here is illegal. As stated above... I have no problems with any races or nationalities crossing the border legally on work visas, student visas, etc. What I do take issue with is the pro-immigration groups and politicians playing word games and calling other illegal crossers "undocumented"... which is just a fancy term for "they didn't fill out the paperwork to be here legally"... which if reasoned to it's natural conclusion means they are here illegally and should have no rights or say under our laws. When a person commits a crime in this country, they are sent to jail and stripped of several rights. All of these so called "undocumented workers" have committed a crime the instant the crossed the border... and thus do not deserve any rights, consideration, or other benefits of their act. The should not profit from their initial crime of illegal entry. It would be like a burglar breaking into your home, eating your food, ringing up charges watching your pay-per-view, but then fixing your broken plumbing or painting your walls for you... and then expect to be rewarded despite them breaking in in the first place.
In regards to gay marriage, as a gay man it saddens me that I... an American citizen... cannot marry the person I live. It is an afront to my pursuit of happiness promised to me by our Declaration of Independence. Now I know that document is not an official guarantee of rights. But it does describe what the Founding Fathers had in mind. As does the constitution... which specifically separated the church from the state in this country. If anyone can show how gays and lesbians having the right to marry whomever the choose is detrimental to the country's well-being and not bring up a religious argument to back up their claims, I will listen willingly and try to understand your point of view. But I fear that this truly is a question of religion beginning to have more and more of a hold over the government.
One disclaimer I forgot... I am a Christian... a Lutheran from birth. I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I am a believer that all who believe in him are saved. I go to church every Sunday. I have to hide my homosexuality from the church so I do not get persecuted or expelled. I believe in their message for the most part. But it is my religion and no one else's. I do not force it upon other groups saying "You are going to hell". I do not use it to breed hate, discrimination, or social unrest simply because it's what my religion teaches.
We have a great nation... a nation built upon several freedoms. But every day, I fear our freedoms are being eaten away and replaced with hate towards it's citizens... and love towards it's criminals.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Valley of the No-Sunroofs
So I've been browsing the car sites again. I usually do it right after I make the $700 car payment every month. Because not only is that a REALLY high car payment to be saddled with in this economy... the truck drinks gas like it's water! I'm rocking 15.7 miles to the gallon combined city/highway driving. The truck travels 26 miles round trip to the office each day... and 14 of that is highway miles. Yet I still only see 15.7 combined.
Anyways... while shopping for a new car, the one thing I would REALLY love to have is a sunroof. And a TON of new cars are touting their huge panoramic sunroofs. I mean like basically the entire roof is glass. First off , the reason I'm interested in a sunroof this time is because I've previously rented a convertible while the truck has been in the shop. I've LOVED driving in the open air with the top down. There is only one problem with a convertible, besides it's obvious safety factor of no roof in a rollover... there is quite literally NO room for people in the backseat. Unless your passengers are amputees, they aren't fitting in to the backseat of a convertible.
Thus, the sunroof. PREFECT! I still have a roof over me for crash safety. I still have a backseat for passengers. AND I miss out on all that nasty road noise you get with soft tops! CHAMPION!
Well... I live in Phoenix... supposedly the "Valley of the Sun"... great weather, warm and sunny a lot, and during the spring and fall, amazingly beautiful temperatures. Sunroofs should be all over the place at the dealers here right? WRONG! You can't find them. They are practically non-existent on every single model I'm viewing online! Even the super-duper, top-of-the-line, leather interior, wood grain dash model of the car.... does it have a sunroof? BZZZZZT! Nooo... sorry....
What gives, dealers? It seems like this would be the ULTIMATE place to have a sunroof! Especially with all the auto manufacturers making them as large as the roof itself!
Anyways... while shopping for a new car, the one thing I would REALLY love to have is a sunroof. And a TON of new cars are touting their huge panoramic sunroofs. I mean like basically the entire roof is glass. First off , the reason I'm interested in a sunroof this time is because I've previously rented a convertible while the truck has been in the shop. I've LOVED driving in the open air with the top down. There is only one problem with a convertible, besides it's obvious safety factor of no roof in a rollover... there is quite literally NO room for people in the backseat. Unless your passengers are amputees, they aren't fitting in to the backseat of a convertible.
Thus, the sunroof. PREFECT! I still have a roof over me for crash safety. I still have a backseat for passengers. AND I miss out on all that nasty road noise you get with soft tops! CHAMPION!
Well... I live in Phoenix... supposedly the "Valley of the Sun"... great weather, warm and sunny a lot, and during the spring and fall, amazingly beautiful temperatures. Sunroofs should be all over the place at the dealers here right? WRONG! You can't find them. They are practically non-existent on every single model I'm viewing online! Even the super-duper, top-of-the-line, leather interior, wood grain dash model of the car.... does it have a sunroof? BZZZZZT! Nooo... sorry....
What gives, dealers? It seems like this would be the ULTIMATE place to have a sunroof! Especially with all the auto manufacturers making them as large as the roof itself!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Playing Straight...
I just read an article on USA Today on how Hollywood is opening it's arms to gay characters and families in movies and TV shows. The article is here if you'd like to read it.
There was a quote though that really irked me...
Can someone tell me where this raft of problems is? So that 1... I can show just how many of those "problems" are actually creations of the people having the problem in the first place. 2... so that I can figure out exactly what problems I'm supposed to be having with homosexual behavior. And finally 3... so I can sink the bloody thing and have people get over it!
"A distortion of reality?" What is this guy smoking? Gay and Lesbian couples exist. They have slightly harder lives because of people like this guy who are unaccepting and close-minded... but they are real and live their lives as best they can just like any other couple. They suffer the same trials and tribulations as everyone else. They fall in love, the fall out of love, they have the same issues... with one added. They have to deal with hate, bigotry, and discriminatory attacks like those perpetrated by the guy quoted in this article.
So you're right, Bryan Fisher. It is a distortion of reality. If it really showed what happens to Gays and Lesbian couples, they'd be attacked, slandered, discriminated against, force back into a closet, and even driven to commit suicide. What do you say we put that up on the TV and see how the viewers like how you and people like you are behaving toward gays and lesbians?
It'd certain be more realistic...
There was a quote though that really irked me...
Such movies and TV shows "desensitize the public to the raft of problems associated with homosexual behavior," says Bryan Fischer, director of issue analysis for the American Family Association, one of the proponents of Proposition 8, California's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage now tied up in court.
Can someone tell me where this raft of problems is? So that 1... I can show just how many of those "problems" are actually creations of the people having the problem in the first place. 2... so that I can figure out exactly what problems I'm supposed to be having with homosexual behavior. And finally 3... so I can sink the bloody thing and have people get over it!
"Hollywood is conveying a deceptive message about that behavior and doing a disservice to (viewers) who are coming to conclusions based on what they see on the silver screen. It's a distortion of reality."
"A distortion of reality?" What is this guy smoking? Gay and Lesbian couples exist. They have slightly harder lives because of people like this guy who are unaccepting and close-minded... but they are real and live their lives as best they can just like any other couple. They suffer the same trials and tribulations as everyone else. They fall in love, the fall out of love, they have the same issues... with one added. They have to deal with hate, bigotry, and discriminatory attacks like those perpetrated by the guy quoted in this article.
So you're right, Bryan Fisher. It is a distortion of reality. If it really showed what happens to Gays and Lesbian couples, they'd be attacked, slandered, discriminated against, force back into a closet, and even driven to commit suicide. What do you say we put that up on the TV and see how the viewers like how you and people like you are behaving toward gays and lesbians?
It'd certain be more realistic...
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Classic Clint Eastwood
Looking for a great World War II movie? I highly recommend "Where Eagles Dare". By the time it's over, you won't know who to root for. :)
Don't Ask... Don't Tell... Don't Bunk... Don't Fight Alongside...
“I can tell you that an overwhelming majority would like not to be roomed with a person who is openly homosexual.” -Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway
Tell me, General. Just what is the difference between bunking with them in the closet, and bunking with them out in the open? You think they're suddenly going to be coming on to every guy in the barracks or something?
“We recruit a certain type of young American, pretty macho guy or gal, that is willing to go fight and perhaps die for their country.” -Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway
Apparently, that means they can cope with fighting on the front lives, risking life and limb for their country... but can't cope with having a gay or lesbian soldier sleeping in the same barracks?
What kind of psychotic soldiers do you have fighting in your command, General?!
Tell me, General. Just what is the difference between bunking with them in the closet, and bunking with them out in the open? You think they're suddenly going to be coming on to every guy in the barracks or something?
“We recruit a certain type of young American, pretty macho guy or gal, that is willing to go fight and perhaps die for their country.” -Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway
Apparently, that means they can cope with fighting on the front lives, risking life and limb for their country... but can't cope with having a gay or lesbian soldier sleeping in the same barracks?
What kind of psychotic soldiers do you have fighting in your command, General?!
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