Verizon to Open its Carrier Busom to more cellphones

If you are like a significant number of people living on the east coast, you are probably walking around with a phone with the verizon logo emblazoned upon it. I can't really complain about their service, although I still think my bill is too high, and that is probably due to all those damn commercials they run showing the thousands of people that support my network. Anyway, Verizon made a huge announcement today, that is sure to make other carriers question their own practices. Verizon will, starting in 2008, allow cellphones that are not purchased from Verizon to be used on their network. If you want to read about the implications check here and here.

Needless to say, Verizon doesn't want to be left in the dust, and have some other carrier make the first move. I am sure it will make some extra money for the big V, and if anything create a more open cell phone market in the U.S. If you look to Europe they are already have a similar system, whereby you can buy the phone from one carrier, but the laws their prohibit the customer from having to sign a contract with the same carrier. It seems to have one drawback though, because Verizon and the other carriers us the subsidized cellphone with contract to get you hooked. In some of the European countries that are carrying the gadget of the year I-phone, they are paying some serious dough for it.

The next big event on this whole wireless front will be the UHF spectrum auction that is set to take place next year. That is when the internet giant Google will makes its move into the cellphone market, then all hell shall break loose.

Getting Personal

The video above comes from the NPR and Slate collaboration, that interviews random individuals on the street. They came to Baltimore sometime this summer, and just interviewed people over at the Inner Harbor. Alex Chadwick, from NPR just lets people tell there story. In it the truck driver tells the story of giving a dead fellow truck driver one last ride. These are the type of stories that you may have never heard without our lovely internets, good for your internets! There are plenty more interviews like these over at Slate, so check them out.

Turkey on my Mind

It is know throughout the world that turkeys are winged beasts with a chip on their shoulders. They roam the streets, preying on small animals and children and in the most extreme cases cars! That is right, the turkey whom we thought was simply put on this earth for Thanksgiving day consumption, is a bird without pity. So on this holiday of glutenous consumption be sure that you aren't walking down the street on your own, for you might find yourself pecked to death.

On a more uplifting note, a friend of mind has a gig with History channel, doing little video bits on holiday foods. The Thanksgiving seleciton is about our favorite dessert this time of year, pumkin pie. His name is Dave, and he has a blog, as well as a eating tour that he runs through New York. You should check out the video, and if you are really bold, and love good food, check out his eating tour as well. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Death in the Office

While I have been in the workplace for a couple of years, I haven't had to endure what is known as "death by power point" too many times. I tend to think the simple presentations are the best, and this post from LifeHacker illustrates that. Check out this presentation they have up, and I am sure you will find yourself agreeing with most of it.

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Corrupt and Contrite and the fall of Bromwell

Letter-writers voice support for Bromwell
I am always amazed at what people will do once they get into office. As the old saying goes "Absolute power corrupts absolutely", and this was no different for the former state senator from Baltimore County Thomas L. Bromwell. This guy received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to steer some construction contracts to a local company. I guess he was correct when he referred to himself as a "whore", while being secretly taped by FBI agents. What is even more galling to me is the fact that you have people out there willing to attest to how great this guy is. Here you have a person in a position of great power, sitting on the Finance committee, and all the while raking in the bribes. Why should I be sorry for him or his wife? You do the crime you have to do the time. I seriously doubt this will be the last time I write about corruption in Maryland politics.
(Image courtesy of the Baltimore Sun)

Reading is FUNdemental

On a cold and dreary Saturday morning I like to unplug from the internets, and read a good book. But what is better than reading a great book, than sharing that book with a friend? I have come across several social book sites that allow you to keep track of everything you have ever read, and allows you to share your views on the book. I have been using GoodReads for a couple of months, and it is great. So if you have a couple of hours (it is a huge time suck) to catalog all of the books you have ever read you will find it quite enjoyable. Then you can have all your literati friends join your reading circle.

Bhutto released from house arrest in Pakistan

Bhutto released from house arrest
The situation in Pakistan right now seems to be reaching a boiling point. One one side you have Musharaf, who took power through a coup back in 1999. Then you have Ms. Bhutto, who fled the country amid allegations of corruption, after being prime minister for two terms. The former is a military leader, who is also the President of Pakistan, and has been an ally in America's war of terror, the later is seen as a progressive/moderate who could keep Pakistan from slipping into chaos.

The recent actions taken by Musharaf as of late give me cause for concern. He has suspended the constitution, dismissed all of the Supreme court justices, and jailed hundreds of protesters. Now that the country is living under martial law, and citizens don't have the right to protest. How can we prop up a leader that has taken away such basic rights, with billions in aid. I guess the administration prefers the strong man, in the case of Pakistan, instead of lawlessness that could ensue if he was deposed. We have to remember that Pakistan does posses nuclear bombs, and has been known to let technology "leave" the country.

Ms. Bhutto would like to sweep in from the wings, and resume her role as prime minister. Or at least as was first proposed, share power with Musharaf. But talks broke down, her welcome home bus was bombed, and general unrest has taken over. While her appearance does give promise of a more democratic system returning to Pakistan, I have a feeling we will continue to support Mr. Musharaf.

I guess we will see in the elections that are supposed to be held in February. If Ms. Bhutto is able to create the sort of groundswell we saw with the attorneys in that country, we could see a change in administration sooner than we think.

Rendition: This is not a flight you want to take

FRONTLINE/WORLD . Coming Soon . Extraordinary Rendition | PBS
This is going to be a very interesting episode of Frontline, well all of them are interesting but this one has a little more relevance. Today, the Senate Judiciary decided to forward Mukasey's nomination along to the full Senate. Although he says torture is illegal, he was still unwilling to classify water boarding as torture. I wonder what he would think about the techniques that are used by the allies that we render our prisoners to? My only consolation is that he can't be any worse than his predecessor.