Way back when, I bought my first cell phone. I used it to make phone calls to Europe for $2.80 per minute. Hard to believe that now.
I eventually got around to doing some research and was soon paying 1/10 that amount. AT&T then called me and asked why I changed services. When I told them the price difference, he countered with "We will give those calls for $1.65 a minute." This came right after I told him I was paying $.29 a minute.
What would make him think I would take such a deal.
Later, AT&T quoted me an internet connection price from London and then later charged me 10 times what they quoted saying "I had failed to use the minimum number of minutes" or something like that. I then swore off AT&T forever.
They later collapsed and were purchased by Cingular who then decided to keep using the AT&T name.
Now, all that AT&T has going for it is the iphone. However, the iphone has been hacked and the unlock instructions are readily available on the internet. Also, Verizon will soon have the iphone in its stable of stars.
My company, for some reason, still has AT&T internet service. The brag about how fast they are and right now, I am uploading a video at .21 Mps. This is almost dial-up speed.
AT&T, you are history. Thanks for stopping by.
Jim
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Movie: The Expendables
This is a great movie if you hit the mute button during the parts where there is some dialogue.
All of the big names in Macho Film are here. From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Sylvester Stallone and everyone in between.
The plot is basically an excuse to have knife fights and explosions.
The hard part with this type of movie is to not make every chase scene or fight look like every other chase scene and fight in every other "Shoot-em-up" movie. I think they pulled it off here. One thing that was notable was the huge amount of knife fighting.
As far as shooting goes, one of the guys has this shotgun that shoots explosive rounds at the rate of 200 per minute. There is a great scene of him blowing up a bunch of guys as he walks forward and the scramble to get out of the way.
Best line is when Sylvester is fighting one of the Pro Wrestling type guys and was losing. He shows back up with his friends and they ask where he was and he says, "I was getting my ass kicked." It was great because its rare when he doesn't win.
I give this one star for plot; 3 and a half stars for action.
All of the big names in Macho Film are here. From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Sylvester Stallone and everyone in between.
The plot is basically an excuse to have knife fights and explosions.
The hard part with this type of movie is to not make every chase scene or fight look like every other chase scene and fight in every other "Shoot-em-up" movie. I think they pulled it off here. One thing that was notable was the huge amount of knife fighting.
As far as shooting goes, one of the guys has this shotgun that shoots explosive rounds at the rate of 200 per minute. There is a great scene of him blowing up a bunch of guys as he walks forward and the scramble to get out of the way.
Best line is when Sylvester is fighting one of the Pro Wrestling type guys and was losing. He shows back up with his friends and they ask where he was and he says, "I was getting my ass kicked." It was great because its rare when he doesn't win.
I give this one star for plot; 3 and a half stars for action.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
MicroSoft Office Suite 2007
The good news here is that they managed to spell the "Office" correctly.
There is no other good news to report.
I sometimes go shopping at Costco, a warehouse store, and find that they have moved everything around. I think they do this so you have to look for what you want instead of going straight to it. While you are looking, you might find something you didn't know you need until you saw it. So, they moved the stuff around for a reason.
MicroSoft Office 2007 is the same as Office 2003 with everything moved around. They did this for a reason. They wanted an excuse to put another product on the market. There is nothing new here. Sure, the experts will tell you that some obscure functionality has been improved but basically, its the same thing with a different look.
This may sound like I am indifferent; as if I'm saying "The chair was over there and now it's over here." This is not the case.
Here, different means much, much worse.
Why?
First of all, you need to learn the software all over from scratch. I have heard that people who have never used Office before have no problem with this. As for us that have been using this software for years, it's a pain in the ass.
Secondly, it's incompatible with earlier versions of Office. Sure, I can open a Word file with either but that is about the extent of the compatibility. For example, take a PowerPoint 2003 and open it in PowerPoint 2007 and try to change the background on the master slid. Didn't work did it?
Thirdly, the software is as prone to crashing as Windows Vista. I have learned to save my work frequently because I never know when the program is going to crash.
I have not use Office 2010, but from what I can tell, it's the same as Office 2007 but in a box with a different label.
I give it my lowest rating: ZERO stars.
There is no other good news to report.
I sometimes go shopping at Costco, a warehouse store, and find that they have moved everything around. I think they do this so you have to look for what you want instead of going straight to it. While you are looking, you might find something you didn't know you need until you saw it. So, they moved the stuff around for a reason.
MicroSoft Office 2007 is the same as Office 2003 with everything moved around. They did this for a reason. They wanted an excuse to put another product on the market. There is nothing new here. Sure, the experts will tell you that some obscure functionality has been improved but basically, its the same thing with a different look.
This may sound like I am indifferent; as if I'm saying "The chair was over there and now it's over here." This is not the case.
Here, different means much, much worse.
Why?
First of all, you need to learn the software all over from scratch. I have heard that people who have never used Office before have no problem with this. As for us that have been using this software for years, it's a pain in the ass.
Secondly, it's incompatible with earlier versions of Office. Sure, I can open a Word file with either but that is about the extent of the compatibility. For example, take a PowerPoint 2003 and open it in PowerPoint 2007 and try to change the background on the master slid. Didn't work did it?
Thirdly, the software is as prone to crashing as Windows Vista. I have learned to save my work frequently because I never know when the program is going to crash.
I have not use Office 2010, but from what I can tell, it's the same as Office 2007 but in a box with a different label.
I give it my lowest rating: ZERO stars.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Playing For a Change
Playing for a Change is a group of international musicians that are on a mission. They want to change the world and they see music as means to that end. If you want to learn more about their music and mission, I recommend going to their website: Playing For Change.
This is a review of a concert they put on in Petaluma last Friday.
There were about 10- 12 musicians. They played music from Africa to New Orleans. Every song was a showcase of talent. The singing, the instrumentation - all was over the top. It was impossible to sit through anything. The music pulled you onto the floor in front of the stage where most attendees spent the entire night.
The venue was small and I would put the crowd at less than 150 people. Most were in their 40's or 50's but there were plenty of teens. I brought some with me and they called the concert "outstanding."
By the end of the night, everyone was in a frenzy. They finished with their signature song "Stand By Me." and then a old Blues singer from the south sand "Amazing Grace." I would go again tonight if they were playing.
I give it 4 stars out of 4.
Jim
This is a review of a concert they put on in Petaluma last Friday.
There were about 10- 12 musicians. They played music from Africa to New Orleans. Every song was a showcase of talent. The singing, the instrumentation - all was over the top. It was impossible to sit through anything. The music pulled you onto the floor in front of the stage where most attendees spent the entire night.
The venue was small and I would put the crowd at less than 150 people. Most were in their 40's or 50's but there were plenty of teens. I brought some with me and they called the concert "outstanding."
By the end of the night, everyone was in a frenzy. They finished with their signature song "Stand By Me." and then a old Blues singer from the south sand "Amazing Grace." I would go again tonight if they were playing.
I give it 4 stars out of 4.
Jim
Saturday, October 30, 2010
FedEx-Kinko's
This is a review of the FedEx-Kinko's online print service.
Theoretically, you can email a document to a print center and it will be ready for you to pick-up at a later date.
I have used this service three times. Here are the results.
The first time, I sent in a document near the airport in Cleveland. My plan was to pick it up on Sunday, Labor Day, and then drive the hour to a client that I was working with. My business partner told me about this service and he was using it to get his own printing done. He was also picking his up on Labor Day.
When I got to the airport Kinko's on Monday, they had a big sign on the door saying they were closed for the holiday. I called my business partner and he didn't have the same problem. Apparently, different Kinko's sites have different policies. I checked my confirmation email from Fedex-Kinko's and they did give me a date for pick up. It was the Tuesday after Labor Day. It was my fault for not catching this. They could have made it easier to notice. They gave me a date, not a day. Additionally, there was no mention about them being closed on the holiday' no warning. Finally, since my business partner's Kinko's was open on the holiday, I wrongly assumed mine was.
The second time I tried to use this service, I fought with it for about 45 minutes before finally calling the site and saying, "I give up." It seemed like every thing I entered was accepted wrongly. If I back spaced to change one thing, the site changed everything else, like defaulting to the more expensive "color" option. The FedEx office said, "Oh, sorry about that. We are working on the website." It would have been nice to know before I wasted my time.
The latest time was this Friday. I got everything entered and then got an error message that simple said there was an error processing my order. Once again, all that time was wasted. So I called the site and then emailed in my documents. It was about noon. I got an automated response saying that they got my order and someone would be calling me. No one called. I called them on Saturday and they are closed for the weekend. So now I am just hoping that my order will be ready when I fly into town on Monday.
I give this service 1 star out of 4.
Jim
Theoretically, you can email a document to a print center and it will be ready for you to pick-up at a later date.
I have used this service three times. Here are the results.
The first time, I sent in a document near the airport in Cleveland. My plan was to pick it up on Sunday, Labor Day, and then drive the hour to a client that I was working with. My business partner told me about this service and he was using it to get his own printing done. He was also picking his up on Labor Day.
The second time I tried to use this service, I fought with it for about 45 minutes before finally calling the site and saying, "I give up." It seemed like every thing I entered was accepted wrongly. If I back spaced to change one thing, the site changed everything else, like defaulting to the more expensive "color" option. The FedEx office said, "Oh, sorry about that. We are working on the website." It would have been nice to know before I wasted my time.
The latest time was this Friday. I got everything entered and then got an error message that simple said there was an error processing my order. Once again, all that time was wasted. So I called the site and then emailed in my documents. It was about noon. I got an automated response saying that they got my order and someone would be calling me. No one called. I called them on Saturday and they are closed for the weekend. So now I am just hoping that my order will be ready when I fly into town on Monday.
I give this service 1 star out of 4.
Jim
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Glee - Rocky Horror Picture Show
Okay, I have never seen this show before. However, I am a fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Tonight, Glee is doing the RHPS.
Here is my review: The show is not something I would normally watch any other time but the songs from RHPS are really well done.
Jim
Here is my review: The show is not something I would normally watch any other time but the songs from RHPS are really well done.
Jim
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Review of the movie - Hereafter
People clapped when it ended.
I'm not sure why.
One of the opening scenes, the one in the trailer with the tsunami, is very impressive.
Additionally, I spent most of the movie being in love with the beautiful French woman.
However, I found that it was a little slow in places. I understand the need to take your time when developing characters but this spent a little too much time.
This movie is food for fans of Eastwood (like me); fans of the subject matter (like me); fans of Matt Damon (like me) and fans of beautiful women (like me). Still, it didn't quite work for me. I think I may have been hoping for answers that weren't really forthcoming.
I give it 2.5 stars out of 4.
Jim
I'm not sure why.
One of the opening scenes, the one in the trailer with the tsunami, is very impressive.
Additionally, I spent most of the movie being in love with the beautiful French woman.
However, I found that it was a little slow in places. I understand the need to take your time when developing characters but this spent a little too much time.
This movie is food for fans of Eastwood (like me); fans of the subject matter (like me); fans of Matt Damon (like me) and fans of beautiful women (like me). Still, it didn't quite work for me. I think I may have been hoping for answers that weren't really forthcoming.
I give it 2.5 stars out of 4.
Jim
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Social Network
This is a movie about the man that developed Facebook.
I went into it with high expectations. After all, this movie had received nothing but rave reviews since weeks before its release.
I wasn't disappointed. I found the story to be captivating and the acting was superb. I give it 3 stars out of four.
One of the measures of a movie, at least for me, is how long it stays with me. I found myself recalling scenes several days later. I might even see this again.
Go see it.
I went into it with high expectations. After all, this movie had received nothing but rave reviews since weeks before its release.
I wasn't disappointed. I found the story to be captivating and the acting was superb. I give it 3 stars out of four.
One of the measures of a movie, at least for me, is how long it stays with me. I found myself recalling scenes several days later. I might even see this again.
Go see it.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Grand Design - Reviewed
The Grand Design is the newest offering by Stephen Hawking and cowritten by Leonard Mlodinow.
This book has gotten a lot of press for its premise: We don't need a god for the universe to work.
The book spends a lot of time going back in time. It refers to how civilization after civilization has invented some sort of god to explain why things happen. Every time, science has proven that nature, not god, made this or that occur. Things like eclipses or tornadoes are easily explained by science.
He then carries this to today where science refutes the idea of Adam and Eve.
He covers, briefly, things like string theory and relativity. There is nothing new here and it feels like the science is just added to say, "See, this book couldn't have been written without me." In the end, it comes right down to a lot of guessing along with a fairly convincing argument that the laws of physics, not God, created the universe.
The book dragged in many places and since there was nothing new, basically wasted my time.
The argument against god is weak. So science can explain the origins of the universe. This is something I've know forever.
What it fails to take on is the soul. I know the basics of how my brain works. It's like a machine and cause/effect prevail. However, it does not explain free will or unassociated thought. How can people talk with the dead? How do miracles occur? What is love or fear?
I give this book a big thumbs down.
This book has gotten a lot of press for its premise: We don't need a god for the universe to work.
The book spends a lot of time going back in time. It refers to how civilization after civilization has invented some sort of god to explain why things happen. Every time, science has proven that nature, not god, made this or that occur. Things like eclipses or tornadoes are easily explained by science.
He then carries this to today where science refutes the idea of Adam and Eve.
He covers, briefly, things like string theory and relativity. There is nothing new here and it feels like the science is just added to say, "See, this book couldn't have been written without me." In the end, it comes right down to a lot of guessing along with a fairly convincing argument that the laws of physics, not God, created the universe.
The book dragged in many places and since there was nothing new, basically wasted my time.
The argument against god is weak. So science can explain the origins of the universe. This is something I've know forever.
What it fails to take on is the soul. I know the basics of how my brain works. It's like a machine and cause/effect prevail. However, it does not explain free will or unassociated thought. How can people talk with the dead? How do miracles occur? What is love or fear?
I give this book a big thumbs down.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Android
The good:
The android phones come out about every four months as opposed to every eighteen months for the i-phone. This means they are more likely to be cutting edge while the i-phone will become antiquated more than a year before its next version comes out.
The android phones are Google phones so they will be well integrated with the rest of the Google world. The i-phones, on the other hand, tend to be very Apple-Only type devices with a lot of proprietary things built into them.
The android phones have lots of Apps. Not at many as the i-phone but looser constraints and better user-friendly tools means there will be a lot more apps out there for the androids in no time.
The i-phone has a loyal following. That is both good, and bad. It tends to polarize the buying public into the "I love Apple" group and everyone else that is Anti-Apple.
Your thoughts?
j
The android phones come out about every four months as opposed to every eighteen months for the i-phone. This means they are more likely to be cutting edge while the i-phone will become antiquated more than a year before its next version comes out.
The android phones are Google phones so they will be well integrated with the rest of the Google world. The i-phones, on the other hand, tend to be very Apple-Only type devices with a lot of proprietary things built into them.
The android phones have lots of Apps. Not at many as the i-phone but looser constraints and better user-friendly tools means there will be a lot more apps out there for the androids in no time.
The i-phone has a loyal following. That is both good, and bad. It tends to polarize the buying public into the "I love Apple" group and everyone else that is Anti-Apple.
Your thoughts?
j
Top Ten XBox Games
I think there will come a time when television/computers/telephones and game consoles are all the same thing. I can see us talking about our latest APP "Gears of War 12". We will download it onto our phones, slide down our 3-D headset, put on our sensing gloves and go to work.
As far as what is the best out there right now, here is what I think. You may not agree but that is the fun of it.
#10 Viva Pinata
#9 Crackdown
#8 Mass Effect
#7 Fight Night Round 3
#6 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
#5 Fallout 3
#4 Halo 3
#3 Oblivion: The Elder Scrolls IV
#2 Bioshock
#1 Gears of War 2
Now, I have not played all of these games through to completion so a lot of my ratings have to do with sales and comments left by people on the Web. I also have a friend that is a Game Tester; the best job on the planet. I get some input from him as well.
Jim
As far as what is the best out there right now, here is what I think. You may not agree but that is the fun of it.
#10 Viva Pinata
#9 Crackdown
#8 Mass Effect
#7 Fight Night Round 3
#6 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
#5 Fallout 3
#4 Halo 3
#3 Oblivion: The Elder Scrolls IV
#2 Bioshock
#1 Gears of War 2
Now, I have not played all of these games through to completion so a lot of my ratings have to do with sales and comments left by people on the Web. I also have a friend that is a Game Tester; the best job on the planet. I get some input from him as well.
Jim
My First Post
This is a new blog I am starting. I hope to review products; mostly video games, books, movies and some of the more techie type toys.
An important part of my reviews will be your comments.
For example: What is the best game console and why? Is it the XBox 360? All you have to do is respond in the comment section of this blog. Since this is my first day, I am going to take a pass on what I think.
What video games are the best? Gears of War?
What about cell phones? What is your favorite cell phone? How does the Android stack up against the IPhone? What is your favorite APP?
What about the ipad verses a laptop? or a netbook?
Is Google Docs going to replace Microsoft's Office suite? (I hope so)
Books?
Movies? I watch a lot of movies so I will be reporting on these first hand.
That's it for now.
An important part of my reviews will be your comments.
For example: What is the best game console and why? Is it the XBox 360? All you have to do is respond in the comment section of this blog. Since this is my first day, I am going to take a pass on what I think.
What video games are the best? Gears of War?
What about cell phones? What is your favorite cell phone? How does the Android stack up against the IPhone? What is your favorite APP?
What about the ipad verses a laptop? or a netbook?
Is Google Docs going to replace Microsoft's Office suite? (I hope so)
Books?
Movies? I watch a lot of movies so I will be reporting on these first hand.
That's it for now.
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