Gizmodo published some really sad news for those in the iPhone camp. AT&T needs to get its act together.
Category Archives: Rant
My opnion? Basically Apple is being a little too controlling. Next they’ll announce the next version of Mac OS won’t allow unapproved applications, and won’t support flash.
When the iPad allows flash support, I’ll consider getting one. Until then, thanks, but no thanks. I would rather watch this on a real web browser than surf with one of those things.
A Russian man once asked me to send Victoria’s Secret contraband overseas. The names in this story have been changed to protect the innocent.
I have a friend Irina in Ukraine, who has a friend Ivan in Russia. Ivan has a girlfriend, Yulia, for whom he wants to buy an exotic gift. He chooses some perfume and body mist from a foreign boutique. But there is a problem: Victoria’s Secret’s website only ships within the US. He knows Irina has a friend in America, and has her translate his desires.
After inquiring a trusted source regarding the legal issues at hand, I agree to ship it to him, if he reimburses me somehow. He orders the gift himself and ships me the box. He offers to pay my shipping costs himself, or to send me a Russian souvenir. I choose the latter.
Days later, an unmarked package arrives at my house. Victoria’s Secret, wisely, chooses not to place their name on the exterior of their boxes. But, knowing I am only expecting a box ordered by Ivan, I am suspicious.
I open the box, and true to Ivan’s word, there are three smaller boxes, one for perfume, the other two for body mist, whatever that is. I feel guilty for the mistrust, noticing the shipping manifest and Victoria’s Secret catalog also included.
I proceed to the post office, where I fill out the customs declaration form. Immediately, the postman informs me that perfume cannot be shipped Internationally under any circumstances. Even domestically, it can be shipped only by parcel post. I am beginning to feel like a criminal. They explain that because perfume contains alcohol, it is very flammable, and is not allowed on commercial airliners, which are used for all international shipping, for the safety of the passengers aboard. They agree to send the body mist, and suggest UPS or FedEx for the perfume. I pay the roughly $20 charge, and head to UPS.
UPS wanted at least $150. I drive to FedEx, which wanted to charge $115, for shipping a 6 oz bottle (tiny) of perfume!! The body mist weighed 10 times as much. I was not about to pay so much. Furious, and later, guilty, I tell Irina the whole story, who informs Ivan.
Ivan is surprisingly happy. He got 2 out of 3, not bad. The 3rd item, now contraband, is left in my hands to dispose of. An unsuspecting coworker of mine is currently giving the contraband to his girlfriend for Valentine’s Day.
No, really, true story. I’m still waiting on that souvenir, Ivan!
I’m writing this to address the panic that Swine Flu has caused.
The World Health Organization announced this morning that a total of 9 people have died from Swine Flu. That’s nine, as in, one less than ten. Total infections of Swine Flu are 331. That’s a death rate of 2.7%. On average. But if you live in a developed country, the death rate drops dramatically.
Compare this with the annual statistics on general influenza. The flu affects tens of millions of people per year, killing a few hundred thousand. And in general, the only deaths that occur in developed countries are the very young, very old, or already ill.
So while the death rate for swine flu are higher than that of seasonal influenza, you sort of get what you deserve, for playing with pigs. Coming into direct contact with the most filthy animal on the planet is the only way to contract the disease. Who honestly expects there to be no risk in such an action?
But, if, on the other hand, you’re like me, and have never touched a pig your entire life, the risk is non-existent. You can’t get it any other way, unless of course someone is stupid enough to go out in public when they’re sick. I guess I should stress that. Don’t go out if you’re sick! Also, the only risk in eating pork or bacon is your cholesterol.
The coverage of this story is absolutely ridiculous, laughable. The media are profiting from fear, and it has angered me over and over again. People, spend 5 minutes and look up the facts, will you? There’s absolutely no reason to spend two minutes worrying about this. I’m kind of upset that I’ve had to spend more time than that writing this.
People have been calling these the worst economic times since the depression. Even the president last night said so. I took a look at the numbers, and Mr. President, you have some explaining to do. Stop creating panic where none is due.
Current unemployment is 7.6%. I’d like to point out that in the early eighties the unemployment rate was much higher, over 9%. I’d like to point out that during the depression the jobless rate peaked at near 25%.
Going into the depression, domestic production was down annually 9.4% and 8.5% in 1930 and 1931 respectively. Never have we seen numbers like that since. In the fourth quarter of 2008, GDP was down 3.8%. Much more dramatic numbers can be found in the early 80s: second quarter of 80 was -7.8%, first quarter of 82 was -6.4%.
So not only is this no where near the depression, it doesn’t even compare to the recession in the early 80s.
Don’t call it a depression, and don’t say it’s the worst in 60 years. I hate hype. And yes, hate is the right word. 25 years is the correct figure.
Other countries are suffering much worse economic conditions right now. Some even have problems like inflation. Some stock exchanges have lost twice the value ours has. Count yourself lucky. What if the little money you did have was worth 1/10 what it is now? What if the Dow dropped below 4000?
