No wonda we write bad

While spell and grammar checking a recent paper for a class, MS Word pointed out the following passage as flawed, "Fast forward to present day and there are 24 GPS satellites orbiting around the earth" and wanted to replace it with, "Fast forward to present day and there be 24 GPS satellites orbiting around the earth."

(shakes head and hits "Ignore" button)

Falling gas prices

I know gas is still expensive, but the recent relief at the pump makes me happy. After paying near $3/gallon here, I am thoroughly enjoying the fact I paid $2.18/gallon at Costco yesterday. I was looking through my photo blog and found the image at left from April 12, 2004.

I was horrified that gas was $2.17/gallon. Now, I love it. It just shows how we can be conditioned to accept things we really can't control and rely on heavily. Anyone think it'll go below $2? Since gas is as low as it is here, I am sure some places are indeed under $2/gallon. Delightful.

Buying a car vs. buying a cell phone

I went in to Verizon today to upgrade mine and Beth's cell phones. They have this thing called "New Every Two" which entitles you to a $100 credit toward a new phone every two years. I really needed a new phone since mine has been on the blitz for the past month. Beth doesn't like her phone and we were using the credit as a way to justify a new phone for her since it wouldn't cost anything. After calling customer service twice to ensure I knew the rules of the program and was assured eligibility starting today, I went to the store this morning to get the new phones.

Wouldn't you know they misled me? Of course. I went to the store expecting problems, because, let's face it, buying a cell phone is akin to buying a used car; they constantly try to sell you accesories you don't want and hound you to upgrade to the next best thing. Oh, and they lure you in with this, that and the other offer, only to get there and find things aren't as they seem, ala Verizon.

Now, to their defense, every cell phone company is like this. Even Consumer Reports says so. When we researched new phones and companies two years ago, Verizon came out on top of all the categories, including customer service. As Consumer Reports said, all the cell phone companies are in need of improvement in every category. Verizon scored best among all carriers, but their score was mediocre. Every other company faired worse. So you see, we have a customer service problem with cell service in this country. We're left to deal and hope we can just get through any interaction we have with our respective providers.

Ok, back to upgrading the phones. Both our phones are indeed eligible for the $100 credit. What they fail to tell you is the upgrade can only be applied to one phone. It doesn't matter that I had to pay for both phones in the first place, or that I pay $10 month for the second phone, or that I have a second phone number. Since we are on a family share plan, only one phone can get the credit. You just get to chose which phone to apply it to. Makes sense, really, but why didn't this come up in either of the conversations about eligibility I had with customer service?

That leads me to another problem. When people ask me how I like Verizon, I say I like them. But I offer a warning, too. I say, "I really like the coverage I get, and I think customer service over the phone is really helpful. Do not, under any circumstances, go to a Verizon store. The service is the worst there. If you need help, call customer service. If you need a new phone, order it online." Customer service did not produce as I advertise.

So I broke one of my cardinal rules today, but I didn't want to wait to have the phone shipped to me. I've been without my own phone for over a month and have been using Beth's, only to leave her without a phone all together. I was desperate. Morale of the story is: desperate situations lead to situations you've taught yourself to avoid, only to realize again why you avoided the situation before. It's a tough lesson to learn.

So I have my new phone, Beth does not. But we're going to order her one on the internet in the next few days, when we find the best deal without the credit. Notice: you can now reach me on my normal cell number, Beth officially has her phone back.

Changes ahead

Beth and I have been planning big changes in the next six months and have recently began making the plans public as we further investigate the benefits these changes will produce. First, we're headed off to North Carolina in March to attend a state job fair for teachers. If all goes according to plan, and Beth is either offered a job or has a good lead on one, we'll be moving to the Triangle Area (Raleigh-Durham) in the summer, most likely June or July.

Home prices there are very, very reasonable. It's also a college town and therefore fairly liberal (Duke, Chapel Hill and Wake Forest Universities are located there). My commute to New York would be reduced to an hour long flight, down from four to six hours and there are tremendous opportunities there for Beth as an educator. First, and most importantly, she'll earn a higher wage, especially since she'll be Board Certified by November 2007 and with a lower cost of living, we'll benefit greatly financially.

And that is our primary motive. Our home here in Vegas has gone up so much in value that it's fast becoming a prudent decision to sell it and use the money to pay off student loan debt. If nothing else, this move is strategic financially and will help position us well for the future as we pursue other educational and career goals. North Carolina, and in particular the Raleigh-Durham area, happen to be a good place to do that. Beth and I have long considered moving to the east coast or upper Midwest. Moving to North Carolina is by no means a permanent situation, but a strategic move to help reach our goals. All that is certain is Beth and I never intended to stay in Las Vegas.

We're still researching the particulars and will know a whole lot more by the time we return from the job fair in March. We are going to use the time there not only to research teaching positions, but also screen towns/cities and their neighborhoods for a home, learn more about the area and try to get a general feel of the area. We've done a lot of research thus far on the internet and are encouraged by what we read and see, but want to visit and learn first hand the personality of the region.

I've been fortunate enough to be flying with a flight attendant this month that lives in Raleigh and I've been asking her a lot of questions about the area. She has been nice enough to bring with her property guides and other useful real estate information. By chance, a teacher Beth has worked with the past three years is planning on moving there next year, too, so we've all been sharing info and planning. Amber will be moving to the region next year, so we won't be alone. At most she'll be a couple hours drive away depending on where she decides to relocate. And all that is good news as we'll know people in the area from the start which can only help to ease the transition process.

It's a lot to think about and digest, but we also look forward to a change and the challenge a move of this magnitude presents.

In coming posts I'll write more about what we've learned of the area. I am eager to share what we've learned and the benefits a move there will help us realize.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a great day! Please eat some turkey for me... I am in Caracas now and am heading to Bermuda tomorrow. The glamorous job of a flight attendant!

Enjoy that turkey!

Benefits to breaking your ankle

1. Most important (and only benefit):

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK. I've been working my ass off this month, which is not entirely bad, but it definitely requires a change of frame of mind when you've been off for four months. I really went back to work back in September but I sat reserve last month, which means I didn't work a lot. This month, I've worked a lot. I'm usually gone anywhere from 10 to 15 days a month, and it tends to be closer to 10 than 15 so at 17 days this month, I'm feeling it. I've already worked 11 and have six more to go. A normal month and I would be done about now. It's nice to be back at work and the extra money makes it well worth it... it just doesn't allow the time at home I'm used to. Such is life.

So it is with that I am about to write a few blog entries on things I've been meaning to write about but haven't had the time.

Rep. Murtha, my Hero

A fair amount of press coverage has been given to a comment Rep. John Murtha, D-PA, made last week in the House of Representatives about the war in Iraq.

"It is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region."

Of course, his comments were met with wide criticism from the robot-like, none-thinking Republicans. Dennis Hastert, Hack-Ill., accused Murtha of playing politics with the war. Aren't politics what led us to Iraq in the first place?

And then, of course, Bush and his cronies lashed out at critics of the war, including Murtha. Cheney Little called Democrats dishonest and their comments about fabricated evidence leading us to war as reprehensible. Does Dick forget he lives in a glass house? Mr. Halliburton shouldn't throw stones. Never fear as Representative Murtha fired back. You see, he was a Marine intelligence officer in Vietnam. "I like guys who've never been there that criticize us who've been there. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done."

It pisses me off how Republicans, aka Hacks, criticize those who speak out about the war. Isn't that our patriotic oath, our job, to question the government. The war, scratch that, occupation, isn't working. Things need to change and all be damned if someone speaks up to that end. Fuck Cheney Little and his dog, Shrub.

Sudoku

I have finally sucumbed to the craze and broke down and bought a Sudoku puzzle book, something to keep me occupied on my long commute to work. I must admit, I am addicted. They really are a lot of fun, good for the brain, and keep you thinking. Working on them while listening to my iPod is like Cherry Coke and movie popcorn, they just go together. And they make me happy. Both combinations.

Sudoku, as read by me and regergitated here, is a puzzle that originated in the US in the eighties, was popularized in Japan and named there (su means numbers and doku means single), made it's way around the world to England last year where it reached cult status and finally made it's way back to the US and is quickly making its way into the lexicon of your average Joe.

It's a numbers puzzles that looks kind of like a crossword puzzle. There is no math involved, rather, pure logic. It makes you think, and in my opinion, is a fun and productive way to pass your time when doing mundane things.

Learn more about it and try it out here.
For lots of free online puzzles, go here.

Harry Reid, D-NV, holds his own

I read a recent article in the Reno Gazette-Journal about Harry Reid's recent move to shut Congress down. Harry Reid enacted seldom-used Rule 21 to shut Congress down, forcing Republicans into a two hour secret session with Democrats. The point: to jump start the investigation into the legitimacy of the intelligence that led us into Iraq. Some were surprised by Harry's move, others weren't.

Here in Nevada, Harry Reid is a hot button topic. Although he's a Democrat, he has favored well with Republicans and is generally viewed as "good for Nevada," especially since he is now the minority leader, a powerful position to have in Washington. With Nevada fighting the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository tooth and nail, we need Harry Reid to be right where he is. Nevada Republicans interviewed for the RGJ article were kind of mum about Harry's actions. It's no wonder to me... they know Harry is the most important and influential individual from Nevada in Washington. They need him there, as Nevadans, as much as the Democrats want him to be there.

If Hillary doesn't run in '08, maybe Reid should.

Here's a link to the RGJ article.

In other news, the recent lawsuit filed against three UNR student groups, including the Queer Student Union (see blog entry below), has now made national news. Go here to see what's being said. In addition, more came out about the suit and allegations in today's Nevada Sagebrush.

Free speech zone at a university?

Sounds bizarre, me thinks. Wouldn't an entire university campus be a free speech zone? Uh, yeah. Here's the story. Last week the University of Nevada, Reno held a career fair in which the military was allowed to have a booth. The problem with that is the University has a policy which prohibits employers who discriminate from participating in the career fair. The military actively and openly discriminates against homosexuals with their "Don't ask, don't tell" policy but were allowed to attend anyway. Three student groups at UNR decided to protest, one of those groups was the Queer Student Union (QSU).

The QSU and the two other student groups decided to hold a "Kiss-in," that is, they decided to openly kiss in front of the military recruiter's table as a protest. The result, they were slapped with a lawsuit from The Young College Republicans group on campus claiming they "conjoled, harrassed and prevented" students from seeking information from the recruiters. The lawsuit seeks a restraining order and unspecified legal fees. Organizers of the event say the students weren't in a designated free speech zone. Those same organizers couldn't point out where those supposed "free speech zones" were.

The ACLU is now involved and has taken up the case on behalf the three student groups named in the lawsuit. As the ACLU says, it's not the lawsuit here that's the issue, it's the idea the University has free speech zones. The entire campus should be a free speech zone. After all, this is the United States of America, isn't it? The other issue, in my mind, is why the military is allowed to present at these career fairs.

Here's a link to an article in the Reno-Gazette Journal about the lawsuit and the groups involved.