So, And Thus...

iPhone Users To Pay Even More?!

AT&T hasn't been doing well lately. This is NOT going to help.

Tiered AT&T pricing to target heavy data usage | Signal Strength - CNET News

AT&T wants its iPhone users to use less wireless data, and it plans to introduce new pricing models to curb users' data usage as it tries to keep up with growing demand.

At an investor conference in New York on Wednesday, Ralph de la Vega, AT&T's head of wireless, announced that the wireless operator plans to introduce new pricing for heavy wireless-data users.

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iPhone users on average consume five to seven times more data per month than average wireless subscribers, according to analyst firm Sanford Bernstein. And all this usage is clogging the network, causing many iPhone users, especially in large cities such as New York and San Francisco, to experience dropped calls, slow 3G service, and issues connecting to the network at all.

AT&T has been reluctant to admit that there is a problem, but recently, the company has acknowledged that problems exist. According to The Wall Street Journal, de la Vega admitted that New York and San Francisco have been experiencing service issues. And the company recently launched an iPhone application that allows users to report service problems.

AT&T has been upgrading its network to the next generation of 3G wireless service to increase network capacity. But now the company is saying it needs to actually curb usage in order to get a handle on demand.

So why do they advertise all that you can do on an iPhone when they can't handle it? In reality, the iPhone for AT&T has been a mix blessing. Of course they wanted new subscribers, but they can't handle them.

I'm guessing when the iPhone is no longer exclusive to AT&T, a lot of folks are going to bolt. That would automatically help alleviate AT&T's network. Will Verizon encounter the same problems? Who knows, but I'll have to stick with AT&T since I signed a contract.

A Pill to Get You Drunk?!

Leave it to the Russians...

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Alcohol Pill Can Get You Drunk Without Drinking, Researcher Says

Thanks to a new technique developed by Russian professor Evgeny Moskalev, now you can get drunk without drinking.

Moskalev has created an "alcohol pill" using a method that transforms alcohol into a powder, which can then be packed into potent pills.

"We have developed a technology that allowed us to turn any liquid solution into powder," Professor Moskalev said.

He reports having tested his technique on liquor "containing as much as 96% alcohol content," notes MyFoxSpokane.

Moskalev claims to be able to create an alcohol pill from just about any boozy beverage, including whiskey, cognac, beer, and wine, the Times of India reports.

Carrie Prejean: Porn Star?!?!

If this is true, it's just another example of just how hypocritical the religious right really is. She's only pushing this agenda for the advancement of her career. What a loser.

Prejean Goes XXX | News | Advocate.com

An extremely graphic sex video starring Carrie Prejean is the reason the conservative former Miss California has dismissed her lawsuit against the pageant. Editors for the website TMZ.com, who claim to have seen the tape, say that within 15 seconds of being shown the tape by a lawyer representing the pageant, Prejean decided to walk away from the suit without a settlement.

Of course, it's hard to keep an unbuttoned blouse closed when you're holding a bible in one hand...

Palin on Oprah

That's right. Sarah Palin will be appearing on Oprah show in conjunction with her book release.

AP News | Culpeper Star-Exponent

Harpo Productions announced Tuesday that the former governor of Alaska and Republican vice presidential candidate will appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Monday, Nov. 16.

According to Harpo, the interview will be Palin's first about her new book, "Going Rogue: An American Life," and it will be the first time Palin and Winfrey will meet

I hope Oprah doesn't let Palin blab on about nothing. That would be a LONG show.

Since we know how much of a Obama supporter Oprah is, I wonder if Oprah is going to ask Palin about her ugly campaign speeches (lies) against Obama during the election.

Report Handicapped Parking Space Violations

This little iPhone application may just satisfy some of those "I wish I were a cop" moments I frequently have. I can't wait to use it!

An iPhone App to Report People Parked in Handicapped Parking Spaces « Art of the iPhone

HFOrg (free, iTunes link) is an iPhone app for reporting illegally parked cars in handicapped spaces. To report an incident, simply open the app and enter the date, time, license plate number, placard number (if applicable), and a photo. The info will be added to the HandicappedFraud.org website and database, which are accessed by law enforcement across the country.

I'm Boycotting Whole Foods!

CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey, is trying to stop health care reform by suggesting that any reform would be socialism.  He wrote an opinion piece which you can find on the Wall Street Journal website.  The link below is from Americablog and their post on Mr. Mackey.

There is nothing quite like a multi-millionaire or billionaire, suggesting that all Americans should just accept the status quo when it comes to health care.  I am unemployed and do not have health insurance so I often do not go to the doctor when I am feeling ill or am in pain.  I just can't afford to go.  Almost all my friends are lucky enough to have health insurance, however, they are all complaining about how their plan rates are increasing at a time when they are not seeing increases in their salaries.  They also complain about greater restrictions on what their policies will cover.

Most people have been hit hard by this downturn in the economy but CEO's of companies, like Mr. Mackey and those who head the insurance companies have not been hit hard at all.  Do they ever have to delay seeing a doctor because they can't afford it?  Are they worried about where the money for a loved one's medication is going to come from?  Do they experience sleepless nights thinking how a chronic illness could drive them into bankruptcy?  Are they rejected from receiving health insurance because of a pre-existing condition?

Think about all of our fellow Americans who are unemployed.  Think of their children.  Think about all of our fellow Americans who are fortunate enough to have employment but are seeing their health plan rates increase.  Imagine what it's like for those who have to decide whether to pay their expensive health insurance rates or pay their mortgage/rent, food, or utility bills. 

We need health care reform so that those who don't have the money to see a doctor can affordably get medical help.

We need health care reform to ensure that insurance companies don't raise their rates, just to fill their billionaire pockets. 

We need health care reform so that people can afford to keep the health insurance that they have.

We need health care reform so insurance companies can't deny an American coverage because of any "pre-existing" condition. 

We need health care reform so insurance companies can't tell any American that they have exceeded their insurance limits and will be denied care. 

We need health care reform to help our fellow Americans; our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, our brothers, our children, and our neighbors. 

All American should have the right to health and the right to health care. 

We need health care reform, NOW! 

I will not make any purchases at Whole Foods - I'm boycotting the store.  I will not give one penny of my money to a millionaire/billionaire who wants to deny Americans affordable health care. 

AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Whole Foods comes out against health care reform, calls it "socialism"

Sarah Palin splitting from "the Todd"?

pic from AlaskaReport.com

Alaska Report is reporting that Sarah Palin and her husband Todd are divorcing.  They claim to have this information confirmed by multiple sources close to the couple including a former Palin staffer.  They also state that the stress of the split could be another reason she chose to resign as Governor of Alaska on July 26, 2009.

Astrologer Lynn Hayes also wrote about this possibility on her blog Astrological Musings (hosted by Deepak Chopra's Beliefnet.com) on July 4, 2009 and again August 1, 2009.  It seems that transiting Pluto is making a square to her Venus, which could create problems in her marriage.

Interesting?  You BETCHA!

Jimmy Carter Leaving His Church

Another reason why I respect this man so much.

GayPolitics.com » Carter leaves church over role of women

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has announced his departure from the Southern Baptist Church, citing the church leadership’s views on women as the reason for the split. Carter made the decision shortly after the church voted to prohibit women from being ordained, insisting that women should be subservient to their husbands.

Carter issued a statement in The Age explaining his decision, “It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices…” Carter participates in an association called The Elders, which works to promote human rights globally.

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“I understand…why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield….But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy - and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it,” said Carter.

I'm still amazed how often I see discrimination towards woman. It really bothers me. Say YES to the power of the Goddess!

Margaret And Helen

I love their blog!

They have been friends for 60 years. Helen's grandson put together this blog so both Margaret and Helen could keep in touch (one lives in Texas, the other in Maine). 80 year old bloggers!

Here's an excerpt from one of their recent posts regarding the death of Michael Jackson:

The Appreciation or Depreciation of Michael Jackson « Margaret and Helen

Watching all this mad-dash coverage, it occurs to me that if you tore him down in life then it’s a tad bit hypocritical for you to now prop him up in death. Did I mention Joe Jackson was a piece of work? But we seem to be evolving into a nation of hypocrites. And as someone who believes evolution should be taught in school, I am more than a little worried about this evolutionary cycle.

If it were up to me, I would establish a few rules right about now regarding hypocrisy. Something along the lines of:

• If you’re Michael Jackson’s father now is not the time to be enjoying the limelight.
• You can’t be Pro-Life and Pro-War at the same time. If one of these dispositions has to be in your cadre, then pick one and live with the consequences.
• You can’t deny the right to marry to some and then cheat on your spouse. The right to happily marry belongs to all no mater how unhappy it makes you.
• You can’t tolerate the atrocities of one President for eight years and then assign the consequences to one who follows. From this day forward everything was Reagan’s fault.
• The Christian Right should be forced to spend a week in Iran. May the best radicals win.
• The Real Housewives should actually be housewives.

We Won't Miss Miss California

She had been in contract violations for a while now. Glad she's gone.

Miss California USA Prejean dethroned - CNN.com

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Carrie Prejean has been dethroned as Miss California USA for "contract violations," including missing official pageant events, state pageant spokesman Roger Neal said Wednesday.
Carrie Prejean has been dethroned as Miss California USA.

Carrie Prejean has been dethroned as Miss California USA.

Prejean, 22, retained her title last month despite a controversy over topless photos and her statements against same-sex marriage.

Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump was involved in the decision to fire Prejean, Neal said.

Runner-up Tami Farrell, who was Miss Malibu, will immediately assume the Miss California USA title, he said.

"This was a decision based solely on contract violations, including Ms. Prejean's unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization," state pageant Executive Director Keith Lewis said.

Now she's free to do "opposite marriage" commercials.