Google Voice Symbol

It’s really cool because the calling is free except for international calls (which is a very small amount in terms of money).  You can have different answering messages for different  people.  Free text messaging, voicemail transcription to name just a few of the advantages.  I can see why AT&T did not want Apple to allow Google Voice as an app on the iPhone.  Basically, I am trying to understand why I should even pay AT&T, when I could get all my services fro free.

The most obvious answer is that it is not as smoothly integrated.  For one, in order to have any of those features, you have to have people dial the new number.  Also, having to use an HTML5 app to make calls is a lot slower than just using the phone app on the iPhone.  Another drawback, is you would have to use your Gmail addressbook, or import your iPhone addressbook to Gmail.

Want to try it out for free?  On the bottom right of the page is a widget that says Call Me.  Enter your name, number and check the box that protects your anonymity, and it will call me.  I have the option set to only take messages though.  Feeling brave enough?

Winter Wind

It’s March first, and just when I thought I had made it through February (I’ve always believed it to be the worst month of the winter), here comes March like a lion.

We’re suppose to get at least 8 inches of snow by tomorrow!!! They are expecting we’ll get hit by a “megastorm” (The Weather Channel).

God, I feel depressed.

Summary

Louise Log 8 (9:16)

This is the eighth in a comedy series starring CHRISTINE COOK and introducing DANUSIA TREVINO, SNEZHANA CHERNOVA, and MARIE CHRISTINE KATZ. Together with her over-active inner voice Louise interviews potential babysitters. COPYRIGHT 2008 MICRO-MOVIES LTD

Enjoy

I can’t wait!! Of course you’ll hear about them here first.

George Carlin May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008

• buy some seedless grapes (I like red grapes)
• put some of them in a sandwich baggy
• put the baggy in your freezer
• when they are frozen… eat and enjoy!

They really taste good, and they satisfy your thirst and cool you off. See? Being on dialysis and having to watch my fluid intake, does bring about good things sometimes. Pssst… pass it on.

Optimum makes me happy honey
’cause I’m savin’ lots of money.
Let’s all get the triple play.

That’s the last line of the latest Optimum Triple Play commercial inundating the airwaves. I think it’s pure genius. Not just this commercial, but the one before it, which starts out:

Mi gente.
Optimum Triple Play,
is in the house.

At which point the house is blown up by pirates’ canon fire. If you’re on the east coast, you’ve probably seen one or both of these commercials. Especially the second one I quoted. I was eventually able to track down the company that was responsible for making these ads for Optimum (which is a subsidiary [I think] of Cablevision).

Now before I go any further, let me make clear that I am in no way affiliated with Cablevision or GlobalWorks. In fact, I receive Time Warner Cable service.

Before I get into showing you the commercials, you have to see the opening page for GlobalWorks. I’d suggest you use headphones, but speakers turned up will do just as well.

GlobalWorks Group/Brands Without Borders.™

I think these commercials are pure genius. People have complained about the pirates commercial, but I’m convinced it’s because of how often it was played. I mean, this commercial has:

• A house being blown up by pirates
• Mermaids singing the phone number on rocks
• Pirates stealing a TV on the beach
• Lifeguards saving someone* (a la Baywatch) and singing the phone number
• Women sunbathing next to a guy* buried in sand
• While a sea monster tells us about call options and a pirate battles his tail

*William Omar Landrón, is known as Don Omar. His cross over success in the U.S. has given him more exposure to English-speaking reggaetón fans, making him one of the more recognizable faces of reggaeton.

I’m sorry, but I don’t see what some complain about as racist in these commercials or any stereotypical characters. I think they (the people that complain) mostly just don’t like the music. Want to see the commercial? Follow this link and click on Cablevision and then on TV number 2. To see the Spanish version, click on number 3. While the English version was flooding the English channels, there was another (different) commercial running on the Spanish channels. Click on number 6 to see that one (I like that one too).

But, the commercial that I love right now, is the suburban one. Now, this suburban theme is not based on real life, with mom(?) in high heels, baking cupcakes and passing them around, but once again GlobalWorks has succeeded in getting us to remember not only their client, but the phone number with singers pounding it into out heads. Some people hate this commercial too. Read the comments on YouTube. If you want to see a high quality version with good stereo, then click on number 1 at the GlobalWorks site. Otherwise, here’s the blurry YouTube version:

I’m still trying to find out who the lead singer and backups are. I’ve read one name, but have not been able to confirm it. If anyone has any ideas as to who they are, please let me know. Oh, did I mention that it’s great to see people of color in everyday situations (even if it’s make believe).

Optimum makes me happy honey
’cause I’m savin’ lots of money.
Let’s all get the triple play.

Today is my birthday. Today I am (place your favorite decade marker here). Yes, it has been a wonderful 39 years, now that I’m 40. HAH!!! If only. I passed 40 a while ago. Why are people so reticent about telling their age? I used to think it was only vanity, but now I’m convinced it has more to do with how people will view/treat us. Just as I assume a 20 something is inexperienced/shallow, so a 20 something probably sees me as old and doddering. I’ll give them the old, but not the doddering.

God knows I’ve been through alot this past couple of years medically, but I made it through. And I probably would not have been able to do that, if I hadn’t been clean and dry for 29 years. There’s a great deal to be said for making decisions with a sober mind.

So, I’m posting this at the time and on the day of my birth. Happy birthday. And to you too, if it’s your birthday.

ps – thanks to Not So Deep Thoughts for the image

What was most shocking to me, was that once again, I was surprised! Why would I be surprised? It’s not like there’s no pattern. You would think, I would know what the outcome would be by now.

It’s not right. It’s more than not right,… it’s criminal.

Exactly five years ago, on the afternoon of March 19, 2003, mere hours before bombs began falling in Baghdad, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., gave a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate condemning the use of military force in Iraq. As soon as Byrd was finished speaking, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., delivered a response defending the Bush administration’s decision to go to war.

It is worth a read. Meanwhile, back in February of that year, thousands of people all over the world had protests marches to stop the inevitable carnage. This slide presentation is from the New York City rally.