ONE.org

As some of you may know, there is a G8 Summit currently undergoing in Scotland. This is a meeting of the world's 8 greatest industrialized nations, they have just announced to pledge $50 billion in aid (AIDS, poverty, etc) in Africa for the next year. While this seems like a great number to the average person, in reality, it is not a gernerous amount. Take into account that the US spends nearly $300 billion a year on military expenditures ($276.7 billion, FY99) and then the $50 billion in aid for entire conitent is almost a discrace.

I feel people who are fortunate, and especially ones who are residents of the G8 countries, have an obligation to help people around the world who are born into intolerable poverty, famine, political violence, etc, These people are born into these circumstances which usually beyond their control, so it is our duty as human beings to help our bretheren. There are many charity oriented organizations around the world, so there it's excusable if does not act.

Arguablly the most trustworthy and widely-known is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (www.ifrc.org), known localy as the the Red Cross (www.redcross.org). But another very important, and with growing popularity is the ONE Campaign. It's main mission: To end world poverty. I fully endorse the ONE Campaign and have donated generously to them. Please go ahead to donate to any of these charities.

I also have the ONE.org bracelets if anyone is interested.

Allahummagh fir-lee warr hamnee wah-dini warr zuq-ni.
O God, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me aright and grant me sustenance.

Joke!

Q: How many Bush Administration officials does it take to change a light bulb?

A: None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its condition is improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are illusional spin from the liberal media. Illuminating rooms is hard work. That light bulb has served honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effort. Why do you hate freedom?

My first blog entry

Verizon Wireless is by far the most overrated cell phone company in America. As a costumer of two plus years, I can testify to the following facts:

1. Over-estimate their service.
   And in the process feed the public that its network is the most reliable- PLEASE. Before switching to Verizon from Cingular back in the summer of 2003, I had consistent service availability throughout my day and even better service better at my house. This was before Cingular switched to GSM from CDMA, as you may or may not know, GSM is a higher technology and has greater availability. Thus, even before it's expensive switch to GSM, I had better service with Cingular at that time in comparison to Verizon of today (Verizon is still CDMA and amongst the few companies that remain on the the older network).
2. Limiting/Restricting phone features which others offer.
   Verizon Wireless has gained a reputation for limiting services such as Bluetooth to be fully utalized. It also restricts using certain types of files altogether-- forcing users to use the "Get It Now" brew service. Other carriers, namely Cingular, openly let users apply their phones without any such restrictions. For further reading, please click here.
   
3. Horrendous costumer service/contract fine print traps.
   This needs no elaboration.
4. Rate plans are anything but a "good deal."
   When compared to it's competition, namely Cingular, T-Mobile and Nextel, the deals offered by Verizon are not in par with rest of the industry. Cingular and T-Mobile typically offer more peak minutes for the same amount of money. And Nextel of course is known for it's free incoming calling plan starting at only $49.99.
5. Arguably the worst phones offered from any company.
   Being on the CDMA network, Verizon by is default limited to what type of phones it can offer to its customer base. Since the majority of companies have, or in the process of, gone GSM, phone manufacturers have turned their attention to GSM-powered phones since that's where the profit lies. This attention includes technologies which is introduces GSM phones first (Bluetooth, mp3, etc.) and sometimes exclusively for GSM companies, the phones offered by Verizon tend to be inferior. Currently the best phones offered by Verizon are the higher end LG phones (VX 7000 and VX 8000). Although theses phones are impressive (VCast on the VX8000), they lack the features and prestige from others, Motorola RAZR, SonyEricsson S710a, and Sanyo MM 6600 to name a few. Since Verizon has stated it's policy is NOT to switch to GSM do to the cost, the 2nd class phones will always be an issue.

The choice between Verizon Wireless and, say, Cingular is a no-brainer. Why I haven't dropped Verizon, and thus opt to stay with it--sigh--we will never know.