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Jason

I decided that I would finally stop BSing and get a better mobile phone when I get my Christmas bonus. I'm not really up on the newest cell technology, nor what the best plans are. My phone is very basic. I think I want to get a Sidekick or a Sidekick 2 based on what everyone is saying about them. But I do have some questions:

1) Is the Sidekick 2 that much better than the Sidekick that it justifies extra money?
2) How much do you guys pay for the plan and to have all the goodies?
3) Do they come with some kind of USB/Firewire module to transfer pix to the PC?
4) Does it do SMS Text Messaging?

Better yet if there is a better site where I can find this information I would really like to know. Thanks for any help.

Also I got my new Logitech Z680 speaker set for my computer! I now have 5.1 surround sound on my computer and I am thrilled. I watched Star Wars Episode 1 last night and the sound is incredible. I never thought computer speakers would sound that good. Logitech came out with their newest speaker set so the Z680's are now relatively cheap ($200 on Amazon). Good stuff! I'm going to have to test it out with music and games this weekend.

Jason

Thanks for those links, Ajay. I was unaware of EA's practices in that regard. I'm sure glad I bought the ESPN football game instead! Of course it was also half the price of EA's game. My friend no longer works at EA in Orlando. I'm sure he's fine though. AIP produces a lot of really good people and he is no exception.

I happen to also be a white collar worker, so I know the woes of no overtime. There are times when you work longer hours. The prevailing attitude is that when you are salaried, 40 hours is considered to be the minimum. If you have a release upcoming, you put in whatever hours you have to in order to complete the job. I'm not surprised that they had to endure that. I'm not saying it's good, just that I'm not surprised. Many fund managers and other financial people also work hours like that on a regular basis. I'm not for taking away overtime from people who already earn it. Would I like overtime? Yes! That is if my small company (or others like it) could still afford to operate. If not, then I could always just either take a moderately sized pay cut or milk the system as much as possible. About your dissertation - all I have to say is DAMN! You earned the hell out of that sheepskin. No wonder I haven't seen my upstairs neighbor in months - he's in the English Department at UB.

I'm not elite! I have no more or less power/influence than any of you! We are in a liberal bastion! Not all R's are old fat white men smoking cigars and running over babies with their SUV's, just like not all D's are non-showering, dreadlock wearing, birkenstock wearing, cocaine snorting, christian harrassing, tofutti eating hippies. Besides, "elite" can be construed many different ways, most of them having nothing to do with having a D or an R next to your name, but simply having power, money, or influence. College professors are "elite" - just look at the crackpot writing the weekly article in Artvoice. The Clintons are elite. The Bush family is elite. The Kennedy family is elite. Tony Masiello is elite. George Soros is elite. Giambra is elite. Business leaders are elite. The leaders of NOW are elite. I can go on forever - but the point is that wanting more for yourself and your pals has little to do with your political philosophy. Is having power and influence concentrated in THREE connected people in Albany good for the average citizenry any more than letting a company in NYC harrass us to pay our tax bills? I say not really. The people should have the power and influence over them, not the other way around. Cleaning up the Republican party only solves one small fraction of the issue. I would rather clean up everything. Maybe that's possible...who knows.

Jason

(e:scud) - I have a childhood friend who graduated from AIP. He went on to work for Electronic Arts modelling stadiums and helmets for Madden 2002 and such. Anyway I can tell you that he loved it there. I was able to see a lot of work that the students do there, and I was nothing short of amazed. You should have a really good experience there from what I've heard and seen.

Okay, I know that we're all happy that we can go to the library still, and we can still check out the BPO (at least those of us who give a shit about classical music, which based by my count last time I attended was about 30). That's great. I can only assume then that you all are happy (minus ajay I guess) that middle income families who are already choked to death by taxes now find their lives even more expensive. I suppose we could have an e-strip get together to celebrate the death of Buffalo's private sector and inability to attract jobs or keep people. And, oh yeah, you guys know that public money is going into bringing BassPro here, right? Yippee! BassPro! That's exactly what Buffalo needs is a place to buy our huntin' and fishin' supplies! I'm gonna get a shotgun to protect myself from rabid liberals! Thanks Giambra! The so-called Republicans straight up caved in, agreeing to yet another stupid tax hike that further harms everyone. We were fed this red/green budget bullshit, as if there were only two choices to be made - raise taxes or shut down government. How simple minded. Gah I'm so freaking disappointed right now. Maybe I'll just quit my job and start milking the system.

Jason

(e:terry) - Nice skillz! Matthew's hat looks sweet. My hands shake a little so I can't really do that kind of thing very well. Therefore I stick to the Bledsoe cap. As long as he plays well I don't have to be embarrassed to wear it.

Jason