Sunday, May 1, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Today in Terrible Reviews (AWFUL Xoom Review)
Today while perusing the internet, I stumbled upon this hilariously terrible review on the Motorola XOOM.
Terrible review. Clearly he nor his editor know what they are talking about here because one who is in the know would have never let this be published. If you don't like the XOOM or Honeycomb, that's fine. Everyone has their own opinion. I'll even give you the price argument, but that is overblown when you actually compare apples to apples...or XOOMs to 32GB iPads in this case. Geeksaresexy.com did this for us with this infographic:
Yes, the XOOM at an unsubsidized price of $799 is $70 more than the iPad 2 retailing at $729, and that is a big deal for an underdog. Now, for that extra $70 look what you get ON TOP of what the iPad 2, that is either not explained or under explained in that infograph:
Terrible review. Clearly he nor his editor know what they are talking about here because one who is in the know would have never let this be published. If you don't like the XOOM or Honeycomb, that's fine. Everyone has their own opinion. I'll even give you the price argument, but that is overblown when you actually compare apples to apples...or XOOMs to 32GB iPads in this case. Geeksaresexy.com did this for us with this infographic:
Yes, the XOOM at an unsubsidized price of $799 is $70 more than the iPad 2 retailing at $729, and that is a big deal for an underdog. Now, for that extra $70 look what you get ON TOP of what the iPad 2, that is either not explained or under explained in that infograph:
- Expandable Memory via MicroSD up to 32GB. That brings the XOOM up to the storage of the 64GB iPad 2...retailing for $829.
- 32GB Micro SD cards can be as little as $20, which keeps you $10 short of the comparable iPad 2 pricing. As for iPad, what you buy is what you get. No expansions.
- 1280x800 widescreen display (720p HD)
- 4G LTE radio. 3G is nice, but 4G LTE is MUCH better. Yes, it's not a nationwide network at this point, but Verizon has announced a rather aggressive plan to expand the network to the same footprint as it's existing 3G network by 2013. Point is: iPad 2 is stuck on 3G.
- Yes, you do have to send the XOOM back to the factory to have the 4G radio installed...but it at least has the option, and it is free.
- Same resolution rear-facing camera (With flash! Why did Apple not learn the iPhone 4 lesson here?), HIGHER resolution front facing camera. Who wouldn't like clearer video chats?
- PERSONAL OPINION: Better Interface. iOS is very sleek...but it's also very simple. There's jokes about the iPad being a blown up iPhone for a reason, and that leaves me underwhelmed. The Honeycomb UI however provides a more PC-like experience with the lightness of a mobile OS. Widgets are invaluable at providing at-a-glance live information. The multitasking system also is better, providing live previews in windows when you pull up the menu. The stackable, hidden yet easy to access notification system is FAR superior to what iOS offers as well.
With that readily available information, you can see that this writer must have spent very little time with the XOOM and Honeycomb, as well as possessing little knowledge about either overall. If you're going to write a review, at least have something to back up your opinion. What makes it worse is how he praises Apple for having a great device, then slams the XOOM for temporarily not exceeding them...or for something they do exactly the same. The blasting of the XOOM for having a proprietary charger (which it NEEDS because USB simply isn't strong enough) while Apple does the same for all of its products is a prime example.
Now don't read this and think that I'm merely trying to be anti-iPad because I'm not. It's a great device that does what it does well. It's just not a device that pulls me in and makes me want to actually own it. If you're in the market for a tablet this year just know that Apple is far from the only game in town. Do your shopping.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
When Did You Choose Your Sexuality?
One of my friends on Facebook shared a picture that is quite the conversation piece:
That's it. Feel free to share the experience of making the choice to be heterosexual or homosexual right in the comments. Don't clutter it with other crap, just answer the question that was asked.
Now this is a very thought-provoking statement, and of course brings up the topic of sexuality being a choice. I have ALWAYS disagreed with this sentiment, because I never made a conscience choice to like women! I love women with all my heart, but never was there a day where I woke up in the morning and decided that from that day forward, I would only like women.
But, I'm not going to ramble on endlessly here. I'm going to offer anyone who reads this the opportunity to prove me wrong. I have always asked people this one question:
When did you choose your sexuality?
That's it. Feel free to share the experience of making the choice to be heterosexual or homosexual right in the comments. Don't clutter it with other crap, just answer the question that was asked.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thank You Jerry Jones, But One More Favor...
Hire a new General Manager.
If the Cowboys ever want to live up to their potential, Jerry Jones needs to do what is best for the team. The General Manager of your team is woefully inept. He hires puppets for coaches, gets too attached to players and keeps them long past when their services are beneficial (ie: Flozell Adams. Getting rid of him this off-season was overdue). He also will chose a locker room cancer (read: Terrell Owens) over a real Football man like Bill Parcells. We see how well that move has worked for us. Unfortunately for you, Owner Jerry Jones, your General Manager is you: Jerry Jones.
Fire yourself.
Many parallels have been drawn in the past between you and your good friend, George Stienbrenner, arguably the best owner in the history of sports. He was just as intense as you are, but he learned a valuable lesson along the way: You need baseball people to run a baseball team. He was very involved, and incredibly intense, but he made sure to let Brian Cashman do his job as the General Manager. In return for that behavior, he was rewarded with a baseball team that is an annual contender. That is why use Yankees fans loved Mr. Stienbrenner so much as an owner. We loved knowing that we had an owner that would do anything he could to win, including letting baseball people make baseball decisions.
Please, for the love of everyone in Cowboys Nation, learn the lesson that George Stienbrenner learned; let a Football person manage your football team. Otherwise, we are all in for more years of torture on turf.
If the Cowboys ever want to live up to their potential, Jerry Jones needs to do what is best for the team. The General Manager of your team is woefully inept. He hires puppets for coaches, gets too attached to players and keeps them long past when their services are beneficial (ie: Flozell Adams. Getting rid of him this off-season was overdue). He also will chose a locker room cancer (read: Terrell Owens) over a real Football man like Bill Parcells. We see how well that move has worked for us. Unfortunately for you, Owner Jerry Jones, your General Manager is you: Jerry Jones.
Fire yourself.
Many parallels have been drawn in the past between you and your good friend, George Stienbrenner, arguably the best owner in the history of sports. He was just as intense as you are, but he learned a valuable lesson along the way: You need baseball people to run a baseball team. He was very involved, and incredibly intense, but he made sure to let Brian Cashman do his job as the General Manager. In return for that behavior, he was rewarded with a baseball team that is an annual contender. That is why use Yankees fans loved Mr. Stienbrenner so much as an owner. We loved knowing that we had an owner that would do anything he could to win, including letting baseball people make baseball decisions.
Please, for the love of everyone in Cowboys Nation, learn the lesson that George Stienbrenner learned; let a Football person manage your football team. Otherwise, we are all in for more years of torture on turf.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Health Care and Abortion
So the House just passed the Senate Health Care Reform bill, and the Republicans are attempting to block it by having it recommitted. The sticking point they latched on: Abortion. Anytime abortion comes up, it's a total mess, and the shame of it all is that this country will NEVER see a real solution to it because people see the issue as black and white when there are too many shades of grey in the middle to count. Furthermore, no politician will ever stand up and take a controversial stance that I personally find necessary to any true resolution to the issue.
There needs to be a strict policy on conditional abortions. Abortions are not a contraceptive, and it is reckless and irresponsible to use it as such. When it comes to that part of the argument, I whole-heartedly agree that it shouldn't be allowed. If you're carrying a child for months and just decide you don't want it, simply because you don't want it, I don't think you should be allowed to snuff out a human life just for that. HOWEVER, that alone is not reason to completely ban abortion across the board. That is just as irresponsible. There's a few situations that come to mind in which abortion should at least be the mother's choice, without laws blocking them.
Medical Necessity
Abortion should be legal if there is a legitimate medical reason to terminate the pregnancy due to it putting the mother, or child in danger. I would think that is a simple enough point. I don't see why anyone would want a mother to die, simply because they don't approve of abortion. Congratulations- you just ended two lives because your morals wanted to save one. That's just bad math.
Very early first term, as a last resort, if other measures were taken beforehand
This one I'm personally the least supportive of. If a woman has sex and the condom breaks, and she takes Plan B, and that doesn't work, and she is not in the position to raise a child for a legitimate reason such as young age or monetary reasons, I believe that should be an option at the very beginning of an unwanted pregnancy, and only because there was no hesitation on the decision. This isn't a woman or couple who is flaking out because of cold feet. They knew from the beginning that they didn't want a child, and short of abstinence, they took every other measure to prevent the pregnancy.
Rape
This would be the one I'm strongest about. I don't get how anyone could be against it, and when people try to explain it to me, I just can't see their side, no matter how hard I try. It's bad enough that the woman was sexually assaulted, but to FORCE a woman to have an unwanted child from a sexual assault is unthinkable and inhumane. This is an instance in which a women undoubtedly should have the option to terminate that pregnancy should she conceive a child from it. Why would we force a woman to carry a daily reminder of the horrible events that took place for 9 months? Why would you want to force that on someone? Now if the woman is strong enough to mentally handle that, and she wants to carry that child because she believes that it is still a blessing and she shouldn't take that away, that is fine. That is her choice!
So, should abortions be covered by health insurance? OF COURSE! You don't purchase car insurance because you're planning to get into an accident. You don't purchase home insurance because you plan on a tree falling on your house. You don't purchase life insurance because you plan on getting murdered. Insurance is just want the name says it is: you are insured that if something bad happens, you will be covered to help with the emergency. If you fall into the three categories that I listed above, SOMEONE should have your back there to help you out in that time of need. Otherwise, why purchase that insurance? What are you paying for, if they aren't going to help you out?
I'm happy to be in a country that is moving towards treating people equally and having health care services available to more Americans. I'm not happy that it was neutered, but something is better than nothing. And I'm happy that abortion coverage was not pulled from it, because banning abortions is MUCH more dangerous than allowing it. The last thing we need are for stairs and wire coat hangers to come back in fashion.
There needs to be a strict policy on conditional abortions. Abortions are not a contraceptive, and it is reckless and irresponsible to use it as such. When it comes to that part of the argument, I whole-heartedly agree that it shouldn't be allowed. If you're carrying a child for months and just decide you don't want it, simply because you don't want it, I don't think you should be allowed to snuff out a human life just for that. HOWEVER, that alone is not reason to completely ban abortion across the board. That is just as irresponsible. There's a few situations that come to mind in which abortion should at least be the mother's choice, without laws blocking them.
Medical Necessity
Abortion should be legal if there is a legitimate medical reason to terminate the pregnancy due to it putting the mother, or child in danger. I would think that is a simple enough point. I don't see why anyone would want a mother to die, simply because they don't approve of abortion. Congratulations- you just ended two lives because your morals wanted to save one. That's just bad math.
Very early first term, as a last resort, if other measures were taken beforehand
This one I'm personally the least supportive of. If a woman has sex and the condom breaks, and she takes Plan B, and that doesn't work, and she is not in the position to raise a child for a legitimate reason such as young age or monetary reasons, I believe that should be an option at the very beginning of an unwanted pregnancy, and only because there was no hesitation on the decision. This isn't a woman or couple who is flaking out because of cold feet. They knew from the beginning that they didn't want a child, and short of abstinence, they took every other measure to prevent the pregnancy.
Rape
This would be the one I'm strongest about. I don't get how anyone could be against it, and when people try to explain it to me, I just can't see their side, no matter how hard I try. It's bad enough that the woman was sexually assaulted, but to FORCE a woman to have an unwanted child from a sexual assault is unthinkable and inhumane. This is an instance in which a women undoubtedly should have the option to terminate that pregnancy should she conceive a child from it. Why would we force a woman to carry a daily reminder of the horrible events that took place for 9 months? Why would you want to force that on someone? Now if the woman is strong enough to mentally handle that, and she wants to carry that child because she believes that it is still a blessing and she shouldn't take that away, that is fine. That is her choice!
So, should abortions be covered by health insurance? OF COURSE! You don't purchase car insurance because you're planning to get into an accident. You don't purchase home insurance because you plan on a tree falling on your house. You don't purchase life insurance because you plan on getting murdered. Insurance is just want the name says it is: you are insured that if something bad happens, you will be covered to help with the emergency. If you fall into the three categories that I listed above, SOMEONE should have your back there to help you out in that time of need. Otherwise, why purchase that insurance? What are you paying for, if they aren't going to help you out?
I'm happy to be in a country that is moving towards treating people equally and having health care services available to more Americans. I'm not happy that it was neutered, but something is better than nothing. And I'm happy that abortion coverage was not pulled from it, because banning abortions is MUCH more dangerous than allowing it. The last thing we need are for stairs and wire coat hangers to come back in fashion.
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Second Best (and also almost worst) Time of Year
Finally we dug ourself out of the snow, made it through the craziest Nor'Easter I can remember, and Spring is teasing us with BEAUTIFUL weather. It's torture. Not only has cabin fever kicked in...but so has COASTER fever. I just need that tingle in my spine back as I get hurled over a hill. And, of course, the roar of testing roller coasters teases me all day at work. I'm staring at water dummies on testing coasters with extreme jealousy, wishing it was me and not that plastic jerk. Spring, hurry up and arrive. I need my thrills!
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