Verizon $9.99 data plan review

I currently have the Samsung i760 phone on the Verizon network.  I originally got this phone as it would sync up to my Microsoft Office Outlook at work, and other cutesy features.  At first, the open-source functionality of this phone was cool.  If I wanted, I could put a David Hasselhof screensaver on it, I could play parcheesi while on the john, and update my spreadsheets for my fantasy league in my spare time.

Unfortunately, I have grown apathetic about the phone.  It's heavy...really heavy and big.  It's like carrying around the DVD box set of Small Wonder in your pocket.
It's also very slow.  When I hang up, it usually only takes about 3-10 seconds to recognize the command.  This can become dicey when I mutter "what a douche" after a phone call with a friend asking me to help him move.

Needless to say, I'd like to upgrade to a much nicer, smarter, faster phone like the Moto Droid.  Unfortunately, this also requires a $29.99 data plan, which I can't justify.  I'd love the features, but as I try to take a wide berth from the porn, I would be relegated to using apps like "track your underwear color," or "Mantracker tips."  I just wouldn't use the data plan enough to justify the cost.

My second option would be to have a SMALLER phone than I have now, but with a few features that I deem necessary.  It NEEDS to have a qwerty keyboard.  I don't generally download games, music, or the like, but I'd like the option to do this.  All my past Verizon phones had this capacity.  Expandable memory and a decent camera (3MP) should also do the trick.

I then took my meager "required items" list to Verizon.com, and perused the phones.  I noticed they broke them into categories.  "Smart-phones" like the blackberry and Droid.  "Multi-media" phones like the LG ENV touch, and "Free to orphan phones."

As the lowest category of phones didn't suit me, I found a couple I liked in the "multi-media category that would work.
As you make your way along the checkout procedure, you'll eventually find yourself face to face with a $9.99 or $29.99 data plan option.  Mind you there is no $0 dollar data plan option.  As I quickly learned, any phone deemed "multi-media" by Verizon now requires a data plan.

Here is what is included in the $9.99 non-optional data plan:
25MB of data transfer and a mobile e-mail client.
Also included is the shart in your pants as you realize how ridiculous this plan is.

If you log into facebook, and upload some pictures...then head over to ESPN for a March Madness update...and then top it off with entering a contest on HomeDepot.com for a free Dewalt drill---you've roughly hit your 25MB limit.  This is a farce.
The naysayers will say "Get the unlimited data plan...you won't have this problem."  I say to you, to shove your grande mocha latte down your cornhole.  I don't need or want a data plan.

I want to text, talk, and stay with the company where I have spent 15 years.

As a last resort, I went to the "dumb" phones Verizon offered that didn't force the $9.99 data plan.
Here were a few of the options.

Motorola "2 cans and string"
Samsung "yell real loud"
Nokia "morse coder"
Verizon "wordprocessor"
LG "smoke signaler"
HTC "carrier pigeon"

Oddly enough, I wasn't really impressed with the options.

What can I do?  I can rant, rave, kick scream...but they won't change their policy.
My only option is to walk away.  Show them that the customer is always right, and go with another carrier.
This I plan to do immediately when my 9 year contract is up with Verizon in 2015.  I'll show them.

The $9.99 data plan is a ploy to collect extra revenue, or to force customers to upgrade to the more expensive data plan.  It gets a big fat 0 stars in my book.

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Wendy's Bacon and Bleu review

Where have all the reviewers gone. Long time passing…

And to think this site used to be a burgeoning haven for cynicism and capitalism. I would say that the warm weather has called us to the great outdoors but considering each of us (besides meatwad) is a good 20 pounds overweight, I know that’s not the case. We loathe the sunlight, we’re like teen fiction vampires except that we’re not “gorgeous” hunks who meet damaged high school girls. And the only reason my skin sparkles in the sun is because I have a flaky epidermis. (That sounds a lot worse than it’s meant to.)

Perhaps the reason we are so slack is because we are sick with eating all this fast food that we review. Not only do we eat this food for the taste, but also for the statistics. Fast food reviews bring us crazy hits from Google. And we’re nothing if not sell-outs.

My fast food of choice as of late has been Wendy’s new Bacon and Bleu Burger. `I’ve never been on the Wendy’s bandwagon. Some on this site would swear by the fries and frostie combo. No thanks. If I want fries of that consistency I’ll go buy a bag of pretzels. I actually used to be a big fan of their dollar menu. This is gonna sound like I’m talking about walking uphill both ways to school in the snow, but….back in my day…the dollar frosties were the size of their medium drinks! Then when they hooked people with their melted mock-alate ice cream, they shrunk the size. They have done this consistently every year. Have you bought a frostie lately? They are the size of a shot glass! After dipping three fries you have dried up the shake. So because they take advantage of the customer and will continue to shrink the frostie till it becomes thimble-size and finally one frostie atom, I tend to boycott Wendys.

But as most boycotts go, I break the rules and succumb to temptation. I had seen commercials for the Bacon and Bleu for a few weeks. It seemed to have mostly everything I could want on a burger. A delicious flame grilled patty. Simmering applewood smoked bacon. Tender chunks of Bleu Cheese to give an original kick to the tastebuds. I’d be crazy not to eat it!
As for reality though, the patty is still the trademark square. And I’m not going to lie, it has the width of a coaster. But it is still better than any Mcdonalds “beef." The bacon at Wendys has never been anything more than a runny pink bookmark. Apparently they improved how they cooked their bacon. (On a side note, bacon is delicious) It is still not great, but your mouth can actually acknowledge that bacon exists somewhere in the burger. Bleu cheese is a love it or hate it thing. I mean seriously, moldy cheese? on a moldy Wendys bun?! But surprisingly it does add to the burger.

I know I've hated on Wendys but I'm glad they are trying to improve on something other than a go wrap. I never think of Wendys if I crave a burger, only a chicken sandwich, but now they have my business. Well, at least until the bacon and bleu special lasts.

I give the Wendy's Bacon and Bleu burger three stars, though I still long for the day when the Carl's Jr. Kentucky Bourbon Burger triumphantly returns.

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Mantracker TV show Review

I'm a sucker for quasi-nature reality TV shows.  While flipping channels, I'll always stop when I see Man Vs. Wild, Survivorman, Deadliest Catch, or Shark Week.  If there is some sort of danger occurring in nature (regardless of how manufactured it may be) I am definitely interested.
In fact, the title alone will get me to stop for at least 15 minutes on the channel.  While not real TV nature reality shows, any of the following titles would catch my attention enough to stop and watch.

Burned to death at Yellowstone
Paraplegic White-water rafting
Humans: Crocodile appetizers
Deadly insect attacks
Lost at sea: Cannibalism on the Pacific

This is why I was glued to the Science channel this past weekend watching a Mantracker marathon.

Mantracker is exactly what its title purports it to be...a tracker hunts down his prey (2 people) in a wild outdoors location.  I was severely disappointed that there are no guns involved in the show.  Not even poison darts or rock salt in a shotgun.

The "Mantracker" is Terry Grant who is from Canada.  He is a professional human tracker, having served in search and rescue units for years.  Terry is a man of few words, but has a dashing salt and pepper beard, and could step seamlessly into any Clint Eastwood western.

The premise of the show has 2 "prey" who have to reach the finish line somewhere between 30-40 km away within 36 hours.  They lose if the Mantracker gets close enough to them to consider them "caught."  They have a map and compass to guide them to the finish line.
They can also bring any other items to help them on their way.  I've seen things like camel backs, dry bags, and even walkie talkies.
The Mantracker is on a horse, and always has a local guide along with him who is familiar with the territory.

The "hunt" starts with a flare gun shot, and the "prey" usually have a small mile or two head start.  From here, the Mantracker heads to the flare site, and starts looking for tracks left by the "prey."  In all honesty, the Mantracker is very good at finding tracks, and choosing the direction of the "prey" from these tracks.  He's usually right on their heels the entire time.  If he does lose the trail, he can generally find it again within hours.

This Mantracker marathon I watched must have been "Mantrackers greatest hits" as nobody eluded him in any show.  In reality, about 30% of the time, someone makes it to the finish line.

To be honest, this is not television writing at its greatest, but it is entertaining.  I somewhat enjoy human suffering, and there is usually no shortage of it from the "prey" in their journey.

I give the Mantracker a solid 3-star rating.  It's a solid addition to manufactured danger reality nature television programming.  I almost bumped it up to 4 stars as I learned that the Mantracker has 16 children.  Perhaps if he starts a new show, he can call it Viagratracker as he seems to be a busy man.

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Shutter Island review

All right so I'm still doing job training. One more week to go. Hallelujah. And because I'm so busy with homework I'm getting my lazy on and bringing back the guest review. It is from a blogger named "Just Some Guy" and his blog is theomniscientthey. I saw this movie this past weekend and I couldn't agree with this guy more. So enjoy, and I promise I will do a review soon, whether you want me to or not.

This isn’t the first time Martin Scorsese has dealt with mental illness. Next to gangster flicks I’d say it’s his favorite topic. This time around instead of the loner vigilante Travis Bickle or the mad genius that was Howard Hughes we are introduced to the elusive Andrew Laeddis. That’s all I’m saying about Laeddis since half the fun of this thriller is figuring the complexity that is Andrew Laeddis.

With Shutter Island, Martin Scorsese has crafted a trippy, haunting, disturbing, painful, and even beautiful film that hangs with you long after the lights come on and you step out into the real world. The thing you’ve got to love with a director of Scorsese’s caliber is that you know everything is going to be top notch from the music; which is not Scorsese’s usual compilation of the best in classic rock and blues (somehow “Gimme Shelter” just wouldn’t quite fit into this flick); to the acting, and to the cinematography.

The movie begins with two federal marshals; Teddy Daniels, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Chuck Aule played by a likeable Mark Ruffalo approaching the enigmatic Shutter Island which is home to an institution for the criminally insane. Teddy and Chuck are there to investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of the institution’s more dangerous inmates. DiCaprio’s Daniels comes to Shutter Island haunted by demons of his own as he is tormented by nightmares of his deceased wife, Dolores played by the beautiful Michelle Williams. The scenes with Teddy and Delores are the most affecting and visually stunning. There is so much pain between the two former lovers as they are engulfed in the tortured dreams of Teddy Daniels. The dream sequences are some of the best since Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The acting and chemistry is so great between these two in their few scenes that it stirred up the ghosts of this reviewer’s ex loves, which is quite an accomplishment since this story is about as far from a love story as you can get.

As the film continues with Teddy becomes suspicious and frustrated that all of the employees on the island seem to know more than they are willing to tell as they continually refuse to cooperate in his investigation. The music is unsettling throughout building tension and creating anxiety as the movie works its complicated path to conclusion.

Of course there are no perfect films and this one does have its weak points, mostly in the plot. There are too many clues dropped throughout the film that prevents the film’s twists from having that Sixth Sense effect on the viewer. However it is a very strong and I should say deeply disturbing film. This one is not for the kiddies, grandma, or the faint of heart. It’s for all those who can handle their art being both brutal and stunning. For a follow up to The Departed it’s another great addition to Scorsese’s legendary body of work.

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