I hate contracts, especially cell phone contracts. The offers look so great: get a free (or reduced cost) phone at some wonderful rate IF you sign up for two years of service. Then you get your bill and there are all the added fees which easily amount to a 20% increase in the total cost of your bill. That wonderful rate begins to look like a trap.
This is why I have primarily stuck with prepaid phones. I am always careful in researching my plans. Many prepaids offer unlimited calling of some sort but their daily access charges will run your costs up just like any regular plan. Coverage can be limited.
Then there is Net10. I found Net10 a little over three years ago. There plan is simple...$.10/minute for any call and $.05/minute for texts. The coverage map looked ok. No catches on the outside of the packaging. I bought it. It didn't take long to activate the phone (minutes really). I quickly found I had service where others didn't. Net10 runs off of any tower anywhere. This translates into great coverage, better than the big players.
My original phone was a nice flip phone that, while not latest and greatest, had enough bells and whistles to satisfy me. It was also very sturdy (surviving many drops and falls). My second phone was not as advanced as the first BUT the cost of the phone was absolutely nothing due to the phone coming with a package of minutes that equaled the cost of the phone. This phone also survived rough treatment.
I recently upgraded to my third phone. I wanted the camera and calendar functions and web access is an option (but I haven't used it). I'm liking the phone. I hate the preloaded ringtones but am too cheap to buy new ringtones. This upgrade was the first time that I was disappointed in the activation time of Net10. The phone was activated within the 72 hour window but I was accustomed to immediate activations. Two days without access was hell.
Customer service is sketchy. Their line is overseas and even with a well-trained staff there is a cultural barrier when talking. Americans use lots of euphamisms that do not translate well. The service reps are good as long as the call goes according to their guide pages. Anything said outside of the guides will throw them.
Rather new to Net10 is the unlimited text/calling plan. At $80/month it is a great deal if you use more than 800 minutes a month. Net10 has also added month to month prepay plans that deduct the monthly fee from an account or credit card automatically-still with no contract.
The phones are still a couple of years behind the newest phones on the market but who cares. The data plan is about the same. Given a little time I am sure Net10 will find a way to be more competitive in these areas.
Other than a few customer service issues and gadget envy this is the best prepaid (actually one of the best all around) plans out there.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Stupid Medicial "Professionals"
I had a visit with a specialist today. I was excited because the reason I was going needed tending to. Friends and coworkers had recommended this office and seemed to be pleased with the service they received. I guess I went to the alternate universe office.
You walk in and no one greets you, says hello or even asks what you want. Approximately 10 minutes later it was time to be acknowledged...still no hello just "do you have your paperwork?" My appointment time came and went. And went. Well, it just left the building.
Over an hour later I was escorted back by the triage nurse. She did ask my symptoms, stuffed a paper thermometer into my mouth before I could reply and started to take my blood pressure. I told her through the thermometer that the cuff would not work because of the size of my arm but the idiot insisted it would. I said that it would be too tight and give a false reading. She proceeded with it anyway. The cuff grew tighter and tighter and tighter, cutting off circulation and creating an intense pain in my arm. I told her it was doing that and she said it was ok. It grew tighter then finally started letting off. I've had my blood pressure taken many time and I know what it sounds like when the machine is done. The machine was done. I shook my arm and the bitch told me that I screwed it up. She became very short with me from that point on.
Flash forward to the end of the appointment. I'm setting up a followup visit and they put the paperwork in front of me and this bitch had written on it that "patient refused to have blood pressure taken." I grabbed someone and pointed out that was not what had happened. I explained what happened. They didn't seem too concerned.
My point? If you are a medical "professional" and a patient tells you something you should listen. You do not know everything. You are not a god because you have some kind of degree. In fact, when a patient tells you something and you summarily dismiss it you show a lack of training, education and intelligence (not mention a total lack of human decency). Your books will not tell you everything you need to know. Much of what you need to know comes from paying attention.
A comment will be sent to the office stating the above. The nurse needs further training or else she needs a different career.
You walk in and no one greets you, says hello or even asks what you want. Approximately 10 minutes later it was time to be acknowledged...still no hello just "do you have your paperwork?" My appointment time came and went. And went. Well, it just left the building.
Over an hour later I was escorted back by the triage nurse. She did ask my symptoms, stuffed a paper thermometer into my mouth before I could reply and started to take my blood pressure. I told her through the thermometer that the cuff would not work because of the size of my arm but the idiot insisted it would. I said that it would be too tight and give a false reading. She proceeded with it anyway. The cuff grew tighter and tighter and tighter, cutting off circulation and creating an intense pain in my arm. I told her it was doing that and she said it was ok. It grew tighter then finally started letting off. I've had my blood pressure taken many time and I know what it sounds like when the machine is done. The machine was done. I shook my arm and the bitch told me that I screwed it up. She became very short with me from that point on.
Flash forward to the end of the appointment. I'm setting up a followup visit and they put the paperwork in front of me and this bitch had written on it that "patient refused to have blood pressure taken." I grabbed someone and pointed out that was not what had happened. I explained what happened. They didn't seem too concerned.
My point? If you are a medical "professional" and a patient tells you something you should listen. You do not know everything. You are not a god because you have some kind of degree. In fact, when a patient tells you something and you summarily dismiss it you show a lack of training, education and intelligence (not mention a total lack of human decency). Your books will not tell you everything you need to know. Much of what you need to know comes from paying attention.
A comment will be sent to the office stating the above. The nurse needs further training or else she needs a different career.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Sickness of Fairness
Over the past few months we have seen a dramatic increase in our government's insistence that certain industries be run fairly. We've seen orders to loan money to those who can't pay it back. We've seen caps on salaries. We've seen the expansion of government oversight in so many areas it is scary.
Unfortunately it is not limited to our country. Two islands in the Caribbean (French colonies) are crying "foul" and "unfair" over similar things. The islands residents think that food is overpriced as compared to the mainland (did anyone think about the cost of getting the food to the island?). http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090222/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_french_caribbean_roots_of_unrest
This whole attitude of something for nothing is becoming tiresome. People need to learn that is more helpful to get a hand up instead of a handout.
There is an old saying, ""Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Our world is caught up in the first sentence. We are in a cycle of feeding everyone without teaching them to feed themselves. What happens when those who can feed can longer afford to feed others? Do they starve? Or will they learn to fish?
Unfortunately it is not limited to our country. Two islands in the Caribbean (French colonies) are crying "foul" and "unfair" over similar things. The islands residents think that food is overpriced as compared to the mainland (did anyone think about the cost of getting the food to the island?). http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090222/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_french_caribbean_roots_of_unrest
This whole attitude of something for nothing is becoming tiresome. People need to learn that is more helpful to get a hand up instead of a handout.
There is an old saying, ""Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Our world is caught up in the first sentence. We are in a cycle of feeding everyone without teaching them to feed themselves. What happens when those who can feed can longer afford to feed others? Do they starve? Or will they learn to fish?
Friday, February 20, 2009
you know you're a socialist when...
a hard-line communist warns you against turning to more government...
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/putin_warns_us_to_eschew_socia.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/putin_warns_us_to_eschew_socia.html
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The South Beach Diet Phase 1
Two weeks. Two weeks on phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. This phase is designed to break the addiction to sugar. If you don't believe it's an addiction spend a few days on this and you will. The first couple of days were hideous. I wanted burgers. I wanted bread. I wanted tortillas. I wanted chocolate. This subsided after about day three. The diet became easier. Then came the day when I either didn't eat enough or didn't eat soon enough. My blood sugar dropped drastically. I was dizzy and tired. The next day (after eating a lot more) I was fine. I continued to have issues with low blood sugar throughout the remainder of Phase 1. I was irritable, angry, sad, defeated...basically it was the equivalent of PMS squared. I did have a couple of days where the drop was so low I had to add a carb back in to counter the problem.
At this point I am able to add in some carbs. I feel like I can continue Phase 2 as long as necessary to lose what I want to lose. I did lose enough to make my close fith better and to wear a bra that had become uncomfortable (it isnt any more).
So far? If you want to lose weight try this. If you do not regularly see a doctor I would recommend going in for blood sugar levels before beginning Phase 1.
At this point I am able to add in some carbs. I feel like I can continue Phase 2 as long as necessary to lose what I want to lose. I did lose enough to make my close fith better and to wear a bra that had become uncomfortable (it isnt any more).
So far? If you want to lose weight try this. If you do not regularly see a doctor I would recommend going in for blood sugar levels before beginning Phase 1.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
random points in the stimulus bill passed by the house
WIC:
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE 14
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR 15
WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC) 16
For an additional amount for the special supple- 17
mental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of 18
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), 19
$100,000,000, for the purposes specified in section 20
17(h)(10)(B)(ii) for the Secretary of Agriculture to pro- 21
vide assistance to State agencies to implement new man- 22
agement information systems or improve existing manage- 23
ment information systems for the program. 24
Please read carefully...none of this money is going to assist anyone. It is going to IT. $100M for IT for a program that could use that money to help a lot of people.
**********
Administrative Expenses for Food Benefits
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.— 15
(1) IN GENERAL.—For the costs of State ad- 16
ministrative expenses associated with carrying out 17
this section, the Secretary shall make available 18
$150,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, 19
to remain available through September 30, 2012, of 20
which $4,500,000 is for necessary expenses of the 21
Food and Nutrition Service for management and 22
oversight of the program and for monitoring the in- 23
tegrity and evaluating the effects of the payments 24
made under this section. 25
People, that is $150 MILLION to tell you your benefits have been extended. Don't you think the increase in your check would clue you in.
******
More government jobs...
NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION 9
ADMINISTRATION 10
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 11
For an additional amount for ‘‘Salaries and Ex- 12
penses’’, $350,000,000, to remain available until Sep- 13
tember 30, 2011: Provided, That funds shall be available 14
to establish the State Broadband Data and Development 15
Grant Program, as authorized by Public Law 110–385, 16
for the development and implementation of statewide ini- 17
tiatives to identify and track the availability and adoption 18
of broadband services within each State, and to develop 19
and maintain a nationwide broadband inventory map, as 20
authorized by section 3101 of this Act. 21
******
ok, this thing is long and boring. needless to say much of what is included falls under "administrative" costs and statistical studies that are pointless. the whole doc is app 260 pages long.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE 14
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR 15
WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC) 16
For an additional amount for the special supple- 17
mental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of 18
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), 19
$100,000,000, for the purposes specified in section 20
17(h)(10)(B)(ii) for the Secretary of Agriculture to pro- 21
vide assistance to State agencies to implement new man- 22
agement information systems or improve existing manage- 23
ment information systems for the program. 24
Please read carefully...none of this money is going to assist anyone. It is going to IT. $100M for IT for a program that could use that money to help a lot of people.
**********
Administrative Expenses for Food Benefits
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.— 15
(1) IN GENERAL.—For the costs of State ad- 16
ministrative expenses associated with carrying out 17
this section, the Secretary shall make available 18
$150,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, 19
to remain available through September 30, 2012, of 20
which $4,500,000 is for necessary expenses of the 21
Food and Nutrition Service for management and 22
oversight of the program and for monitoring the in- 23
tegrity and evaluating the effects of the payments 24
made under this section. 25
People, that is $150 MILLION to tell you your benefits have been extended. Don't you think the increase in your check would clue you in.
******
More government jobs...
NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION 9
ADMINISTRATION 10
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 11
For an additional amount for ‘‘Salaries and Ex- 12
penses’’, $350,000,000, to remain available until Sep- 13
tember 30, 2011: Provided, That funds shall be available 14
to establish the State Broadband Data and Development 15
Grant Program, as authorized by Public Law 110–385, 16
for the development and implementation of statewide ini- 17
tiatives to identify and track the availability and adoption 18
of broadband services within each State, and to develop 19
and maintain a nationwide broadband inventory map, as 20
authorized by section 3101 of this Act. 21
******
ok, this thing is long and boring. needless to say much of what is included falls under "administrative" costs and statistical studies that are pointless. the whole doc is app 260 pages long.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Fear
Today has been an exhausting day. The "economy" reared its ugly head in my world again and the fear of losing a job dominated my morning. I understand that businesses are struggling right now and I understand that cuts must be made. However intellectual understand is easily triumphed by emotions such as fear.
For many people in my demographic this situation is a first. For me it is nothing more than recollections of my childhood. I know from personal experience what plant closings and layoffs can do to a family. I know the stressfulness of the situation affects every member of a family. On one hand I do not see that it is beneficial for the situation to be explained to children. On the other I see no better way to handle it other than complete and total honesty. But I digress. You see I have no children to worry about.
I do have to worry about myself and my significant other. How will we pay the bills if one of us loses our job? Will we be able to keep a roof over our head? What can we cut that is truly a want instead of a need? We have chosen to prepare for the worst. Our "fun" is now going to be limited. Instead we are going to save for a rainy day. We will substitute eating out for home cooked and bagged lunches much more often.
As the day worn on a calmness came over me as I realized that I have been through this before and you know what...I survived. We all survived. I realized the advantage I have over many in that I do know the legal types of work to look for to survive until this passes (should the situation come to that). I know that right now I have the tools to make a living (a much smaller living) if only I am willing to work hard.
So fear had its time with me today. Fear is still with me to some degree. But certainty that anything that comes along is only temporary (be it good or bad) is conquering that fear. And that, my friends, is the key to recovering from this so called recession.
Never forget that your destiny is largely your choice.
For many people in my demographic this situation is a first. For me it is nothing more than recollections of my childhood. I know from personal experience what plant closings and layoffs can do to a family. I know the stressfulness of the situation affects every member of a family. On one hand I do not see that it is beneficial for the situation to be explained to children. On the other I see no better way to handle it other than complete and total honesty. But I digress. You see I have no children to worry about.
I do have to worry about myself and my significant other. How will we pay the bills if one of us loses our job? Will we be able to keep a roof over our head? What can we cut that is truly a want instead of a need? We have chosen to prepare for the worst. Our "fun" is now going to be limited. Instead we are going to save for a rainy day. We will substitute eating out for home cooked and bagged lunches much more often.
As the day worn on a calmness came over me as I realized that I have been through this before and you know what...I survived. We all survived. I realized the advantage I have over many in that I do know the legal types of work to look for to survive until this passes (should the situation come to that). I know that right now I have the tools to make a living (a much smaller living) if only I am willing to work hard.
So fear had its time with me today. Fear is still with me to some degree. But certainty that anything that comes along is only temporary (be it good or bad) is conquering that fear. And that, my friends, is the key to recovering from this so called recession.
Never forget that your destiny is largely your choice.
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