Iphone Rate Plan Deception Sep 5, 08, 8:27 a.m.

Here's a good one for you:

I just reviewed my first iphone 3g bill summary just to see what the charges were even though the bill isn't due until September 25th.

While I'm sure I read this on the web that the iphone monthly cost includes a $30 data plan or whatever you want to call it, the employee that sold me the phone and got me signed up in the Chicago Apple store NEVER ONCE EXPLAINED THAT. In fact, I feel 99.9% sure that the product documentation on the tables at the store do not include that.

The employee flat out told me that the $39.99 rate plan included unlimited Internet usage. I would swear on a bible to it. Never once mentioned the $30 added to the $39.99 for Internet usage.

Has anyone else experienced this? I've been on the phone with AT&T for over 30 minutes trying to figure out why my first bill was so high, and they mentioned that - news to me.

I am completely planning to go to the Apple store after work to look at the documentation signs on the iphone tables there that the use for rate and service plans. I can't believe they hid this fact from me or anyone else.

Politics + Hurricanes Sep 2, 08, noon

One thing I've noticed during the past few days is the involvement of McCain and Obama in hurricane preparedness and relief efforts.

Can someone tell my why, other than being compassionate people, they get involved? These are matters for the federal government in general, for the president, for the agencies they rely on, etc. Obama and McCain are not state senators for affected states.

I just watch all this on the news, McCain giving a briefing, Obama giving comments, what they're doing, and it just all comes off like face time for both of them to pretend they're the president. They're not.

Is this all just an effort for either side to point fingers and what the other party did less of? I just fail to find the point to politicizing preparing for a natural disaster - if there's anything that should be bipartisan it's keeping people safe from disasters like this that you can plan for.

Anyone else agree or have thoughts on this?

Great office pranks? Aug 28, 08, 1:09 p.m.

Where did that thread go? I've searched and searched, no dice.

A coworker is asking for great pranks, I'm forgetting some, but I've mentioned the frozen shaving cream thing, print screen of desktop and hide icons, taping sardines under the desk surface, fresh fish hidden in a file folder, etc.

Find that thread or start filling up this one with great stuff.

If you left the US... Aug 27, 08, 11:07 a.m.

Throughout this presidential campaign I've been rather vocal to my girlfriend, in a somewhat joking way, about wanting to move somewhere else if McCain wins this election.

But it kind of got me thinking and curious about it- if you decided to move from the US for whatever reason related to politics, government, total dissatisfaction with the way things are done, etc., where would you move to?

What other countries do you consider "top destinations" for getting away from the potentially larger toilet we could be in within the next 8 years if some major things are not turned around here?

Citgo=Hugo Chavez? Aug 25, 08, 12:33 p.m.

Just got a forwarded email from my mom with the subject being "You know about this stuff….is this for real?"

The forwarded portion is included below. Don't even know where to begin...
--------------------------------…

Subject: CITCO CHANGES NAME

Check under Politics and go to section 'Gasoline' where Snopes give a complete rundown on the entire Chavez involvement. This will give you an in depth view of the importance of the USA to start the drilling process, in all areas, as soon as possible. There is much more to this than just gasoline prices, at our pumps.

Verified with SNOPES.com

IN ORLANDO LAST WEEK, AT A CITGO STATION REGULAR WAS PRICED AT $3.82 PER GALLON. THERE WERE NO CUSTOMERS. HOWEVER, ACROSS THE STREET WHERE I FUELED IT WAS SELLING FOR $3.85 PER GALLON AND ALL PUMPS THERE HAD CARS WAITING TO FUEL.

Have you noticed how the Citgo signs have disappeared in the past 7-8 months? Very clever move by Chavez. But guess what CITGO IS CHANGING ITS NAME TO? This is serious Americans...make sure you read.

NEWS FLASH:

Chavez is NOW getting a Russian Weapons Factory built by Putin. The RUSSIANS are building an AK-47 Kalashnikov Assault Rifle factory in Venezuela to give armament support to Communist Rebel groups throughout the Americas

Chavez NOW has IRANIANS operating his oil refineries in Venezuela for him. It is likely only a matter of time, if not already, before Chavez has Iranian built LONG RANGE missiles, with a variety of warhead types aimed at.... Guess Who?

CITGO is NOW in the process of Changing its name to PETRO EXPRESS due to the loss of gasoline sales in the USA due to the recent publicity of ownership by Chavez of Venezuela

Every dollar you spend with CITGO or PETRO EXPRESS gasoline will be used against you, your basic human rights, and your freedo ms. He will start wars here in the Americas that will probably be the death of millions.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT because Chavez is starting to feel the loss of revenue from his holdings. HE OWNS CITGO. This is a very important move which everyone should be aware of.

ANNOUNCED JUST RECENTLY, CITGO, BEING AWARE THAT SALES ARE DOWN DUE TO U.S. CUSTOMERS NOT WANTING TO BUY FROM 'CITGO-CHAVEZ,' HAS STARTED TO CHANGE THE NAME OF SOME OF THEIR STORES TO: 'PETRO EXPRESS.'

DO NOT BUY FROM 'PETRO EXPRESS'!

'PETRO EXPRESS' IS ALSO 100% OWNED BY 'CHAVEZ.'

KEEP THIS MEMO GOING SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

BOYCOTT 'CITGO' AND 'PETRO EXPRESS'.

MAKE SURE THIS IS PASSED ON TO EVERYONE IN YOUR E-MAIL LIST IN THE UNITED STATES AND OUTSIDE OF AMERICA!

Obama Shirts Aug 24, 08, 1:19 p.m.

Yesterday my girlfriend and I went to Springfield, IL to go to the Obama campaign event.

She walked around and took a ridiculous # of pictures of different Obama shirts, so I put a gallery together. Her "YES YOU CAN HAVE CHEEZBURGER" shirt is in there too!

http://www.mg33.net/photos/obama…

Everyone Is Sorry Aug 21, 08, 9:29 a.m.

From people in service industry jobs, why is the most common phrase out of their mouth "I'm sorry about..."??

Sorry about the wait, sorry that took so long, etc. etc. etc. when it really didn't.

Anyone notice this frequently especially from younger people in service industry jobs?

Are most people so impatient that it's created this sense of instant apology for no reason by people doing services for them? I notice it all the time. EX: trying on clothes two nights ago, no one was at the fitting rooms, no big deal, someone came over soon after and the first thing they said was "I'm sorry... let me get a room for you."

No "hello." No "how are you this evening?" but "I'm sorry." Shouldn't they know that I'm upset with something before even saying that? It's kind of like admitting guilt when no one has accused you of anything."

What's up with that?

Swedish Band Kent Aug 20, 08, 2:29 p.m.

Just curious, any of you a fan of a band from Sweden called Kent? They've been around a while, are rather unknown in the US, but are one of my absolute favorite bands. I hardly ever find anyone who knows who they are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken…)

Romantic Cliches... Aug 20, 08, 1:41 p.m.

List em'

Chocolate covered strawberries, rose petals on bed...

Victory in Iraq? Aug 20, 08, 12:19 p.m.

I know we have several Obama and McCain election threads, but I'm curious about your take on something since it's McCain's soundbyte du jour day in and day out:

What do you consider "victory" in Iraq? What do you consider the definition of "winning" there?

McCain basically says he's the only candidate concerned with victory there, with "winning" and bringing the troops home. But what in the world does that mean? What do you think he thinks it means?

I don't know if any true victory is possible there. Remember, victory was already declared there by Bush years ago, so, all the more confusing.

Fruit & Pooping Aug 19, 08, 9:36 p.m.

I recently told my Mom that I was starting to eat much more fruit than normal - I keep apples and bananas at my desk all day and have that instead of junk food now. She said, in that worrisome mother type of voice "you know what happens if you eat alot of fruit right? You go the bathroom alot." This is how she operates. No "gee michael, that's great and healthy! good for you." Instead, basically, "you'll poop alot."

Well, I am. Six trips to to the stalls today. SIX!

So I looked up the following on google: "does fruit make me poop alot?" Here's the proof of that: http://www.google.com/search?hl=… (hilarious results too)

And I have to post the yahoo answers question it found:

"What can i take to make me poop regularly?
i usually go like once every 2 days and when ever i eat a big meal i sometimes have to wait up to like 3 or 4 days and im trying to get a nice body and its slowing the process down i have 4 out of 6 abs but the bottom takes so long due to my lack of going to the bathroom .... what can i take thats still healthy but makes me get rid of all my waste faster!.....

thank you
by the way i eat vegetables"

I HAVE 4 OUT OF 6 ABS BUT THE BOTTOM TAKES SO LONG DUE TO MY LACK OF GOING TO THE BATHROOM

Too funny.

Funny To You... Aug 15, 08, 2:10 p.m.

What's something that always makes you laugh, but that not many other people would find funny?

For example - I'm going to a bachelor party tomorrow night, pretty casual, and all day I've been giggling at the thought of showing up in a suit and tie, but, like something I wouldn't really wear personally. Like, a crummy suit, ill fitting, a really bad tie, shoes like a banker or Wall Street guy would wear.

I also always laugh at the thought of showing up to a job interview in a tuxedo and just telling them, "all my suits were at the cleaners." I've been laughing at that for at least 10 years.

Stream itunes iphone App Aug 15, 08, 8:45 a.m.

Figured some of you would like to check this out, it's still free for the first 100,000 downloads:

http://www.appleinsider.com/arti…

The developer of desktop software that lets users listen to their iTunes libraries from any broadband Internet connection now has a similar tool for the iPhone and iPod touch that eliminates storage limits.

Called SimplifyMedia (App Store), the app by the company of the same name uses a companion app for Mac, Linux, or Windows systems to share iTunes songs and playlists from both the user's own computer and any of 30 friends the user marks as friends.

Using the iPhone app itself is characterized as seamless and attaches visual song data as well, including album art and lyrics associated with each track.

Importantly, the software isn't limited to a Wi-Fi connection and will work (albeit not as quickly) over 2G and 3G cellular Internet access.

The software is potentially controversial for granting access to music that isn't owned by the user, though the company on its website claims it's legal; songs are only streamed and are only shared between a specific group of users rather than the public at large. DRM-protected iTunes purchases also won't stream through the program.

Hoping to spur a strong early reaction, Simplify Media is offering the iPhone edition of its utility for free to the first 100,000 to download it but will charge $3.99 per copy afterwards. The computer-based software is and remains free, regardless of platform.

SimplifyMedia for iPhone delivers on a remote streaming concept similar to one recently outlined in an Apple patent filing.

Yo CALLES! Aug 13, 08, 9:21 a.m.

Anything hot happening in Miami the weekend of October 4th and 5th?

We just booked a cruise leaving Monday October 5th and will probably fly down on Saturday and stay in South Beach a couple nights. We were thinking about maybe going to the Everglades, doing something away from the beach stuff we did last time we were there. Going to be there for 10 days most likely and staying with family friends the weekend we get back.

Anything super worth seeing away from South Beach? Thanks!

Airtoons Aug 11, 08, 4:50 p.m.

http://www.airtoons.com/

If you've never seen this before, please punch yourself in the face.

Tony Clifton Aug 11, 08, 11:46 a.m.

So in Chicago right now, Tony Clifton has a comedy show at a local theater. You know who he is right?

http://www.chopintheatre.com/eve…

It's getting great reviews and is supposed to be totally out of control.

Now, my question is, I want to go and take my girlfriend, but she has no idea who this is, has never seen Man On The Moon either. Should I not tell her what it is and just take her, without knowing anything about it so she's all the more shocked by the show? What do you think?

Your Favorite Line... Aug 5, 08, 12:27 p.m.

from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

GO!

barackbook.com Jul 29, 08, 2:25 p.m.

http://www.barackbook.com/

DISGUSTING. The RNC is a FAIL when it comes to promoting McCain's policies, because he has none. All they can focus on is tearing Obama down.
-------------------------
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn…

(CNN) – The Republican National Committee stepped up its efforts Tuesday to use social networking technologies that Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has effectively embraced in order to criticize the presumptive Democratic nominee as the campaign heads into the final 100 days.

BarackBook.com, the RNC’s new Web site parodies Facebook.com, the popular social networking site where Obama currently has 1.2 million supporters. The RNC says that Obama has seven “friends” on the parody site including convicted Chicago businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko and William Ayers, a member of the Weather Underground during the 1970’s.

In addition to a feed page displaying activity between Obama and his “friends,” the RNC site also includes a page featuring YouTube videos about Obama, a page that facilitates donations to the RNC, an RSS feed of information from GOP.com, among other pages.

BarackBook.com is free-standing outside of Facebook but the site includes a link to the page of the RNC’s official Facebook group and a link to an application that duplicates the RNC’s parody site within the confines of Facebook.

“This is an interactive way to learn more about Obama’s poor judgment,” RNC spokesman Alex Conant said in a statement Tuesday. “Obama’s judgment is an issue in this election, and this site will help us highlight some of Obama’s noteworthy ‘friends.’”

The Obama campaign sees the new RNC site differently. “For comment on the new RNC site, I’d refer you to their own discussion board, specifically the topic ‘The site is lame,’” said an e-mail from Tommy Vietor of the Obama campaign, making a reference to comments posted on Facebook about the BarackBook application.

In recent days, both Obama and John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, have increased efforts to connect with supporters in on-line social networking environments. The McCain campaign recently launched “McCain Nation,” a space on the campaign’s Web site that facilitates grassroots organizing by supporters by allowing them to create and find events involving other McCain supporters. Since mid-June, the McCain campaign has also launched at least four separate applications on Facebook — a video tour of McCain’s bus, a video game, a virtual yard sign, and an application that allows users to view a McCain campaign advertisement.

The Obama campaign’s original Facebook application is credited with helping to build a large base of support on the social networking site. The campaign recently launched a Facebook second application that allows supporters on the popular social networking site to set up grassroots organizing events such as meetings, fundraisers, voter registration activities, phone banks, or community service.

Obama currently has a wide lead over McCain in terms of support on Facebook. Obama has 1.2 million supporters while McCain has 183,000 on the site.

Cool Tote Bags Jul 28, 08, 8:51 a.m.

In the spirit of turning down plastic bags at the store, do any of you know of any online stores that sell cool, design-ish artwork tote bags?

Sadly, this item from Cafe Press just doesn't cut it:

http://images.cafepress.com/jitc…

Thanks.

iphone 3G VOIP Jul 25, 08, 3:01 p.m.

Has anyone tested any VOIP add-ons or programs with a new 3g iphone?

There's a skype beta program in the works, and I was reading about this yesterday:

http://www.icall.com/iphone/

I get horrible AT&T reception in my apartment - that's why I switched from Cingular years ago - and I'm interested in the ability to use a VOIP program like this via my Wi-Fi connection at home. If I could have the phone forward calls to the VOIP account if it's not getting a signal, that would totally rule.

Thoughts?