FYI, PEOPLE AT&T/CINGULAR WIRELESS FAMILY

F.Y.I. PEOPLE:


I know everybody knows about AT&T owning [or had taken over] Cingular Wireless, which was made public...however, did you know that AT&T also owns US Cellular and Alltel Wireless as well?

If I am the last to know that we only have four of the most popular [and major] wireless companies [two-year contract companies I should say] to choose from, I sure do wish I knew this sooner! Damn, that's messed up! Excuse my "french". AT&T is working on becoming conglomerate which is very bad. Between AT&T and Verizon, which is just as bad when they were [or still] spying on us with President Bush's happy permission ( ) and now this from AT&T, I don't know who is worse. Majority of the companies are greedy, seems like AT&T has just gone into the "greedier section".


Here is the list, that I know, so far via my neighborhood when I decided on checking which wireless plans I qualify for through my zip code :

• Verizon
• AT&T/Cingular
• Sprint/Nextel
• Alltel/AT&T
• T Mobile
  
• US Cellular/AT&T

OTHER BRANDS i KNOW OF:

• Boost Mobile
• Helio
• AMP'ED

I did more research on this matter and it seems I am somewhat correct...at present about AT&T/Cingular, only it's Cingular who's working on being a commemorate . My brother had stated that it was Cingular who brought out AT&T and decided that since AT&T is the more popular name, this is what they decided to stick with.

SOURCE:

STRUGGLING DREAMS: THE FIXED INCOME DILEMMA

So many of us, either on pensions or disability incomes [due to injuries, diagnoses, illnesses and/or a family member's death], trying to live, staying healthy, with our only income is, our meager, few modest, fixed incomes; which isn't a possible way to "live". We, the seniors, and those with disabilities, aren't treated with consideration, nor care, as we are looked upon with disdain.

Constantly being ripped off, either by "our so-called government", credit card companies, banks and lending corporations, where the fees alone deliver no understanding of our dilemma, just added debt with frustration for us. It's an epidemic [that I'm a statistical causality of] putting us all, the disabled, the elderly, the poor, on the chopping block, so far in a financial black hole, that we're drowning in hopelessness and the ability to recover, is thwarted. Unable to get out, and leaving our families with the burden to pay these outrageous debts, after we have gone.

So many like myself, because of the meager, monthly funds , are not enjoying life like we would want to . Constantly struggling and sadly knowing that three-meals-a-day isn't an option for us, pondering choices on which (or partially paid for) bills to pay , what foods can be afforded, is there any healthy foods an option to purchase, and replacing /repairing items in our dwellings, as the thought screams, "will I be able to get the medication I need this month?"

By the end of the first week, money is gone, food practically depleted, and here comes the " pass due" notices along with their outlandish "late fees" in the mail from other accounts owed, adding to your mounting debt of sorrow along with your insufficient, fixed income that you've become part of.

I used to stay in a panic of worried depression several years ago. Begging, crying silently, praying, and hoping-while it's being so difficult to be asking everyone I knew for help. 99% of the time, they couldn't help me since the few of my friends were also going though their own brand of problems. Nowadays, I hadn't asked for help like I use to. . .only a couple of my friends I ask. . . and it's hard to ask. I end up becoming physically ill, truly sick to my stomach when working up to courage in asking ( for me it's begging). I struggle with my sentences, and strutter though it all hoping they don't see the pain I'm in by asking. I wonder, has this feeling of dread happened to anyone else? Leave a comment letting me know, and thanks.

I know that I am having conflicts within myself because of. . . , not wanting to be a burden and yet knowing that the end result would definitely be worse. For most, I try not to say anything saddening nor giving away to tears, while putting on a mask they'll recognize and think everything is well with you and yours. I know many of you understand this daily regiment with self, fighting against those "quick and easy" ways to make some cash...several years ago this was in the papers:

I don't know all the particulars of the interview, but I do know that two senior women in Brooklyn, NY, tried to live off of their meager, fixed incomes (which it didn't nor doesn't work), then ending up arrested for dealing weed, pot , Mary J's ( selling marijuana for those that don't know the slang). When asked the stupid question by reporters as to "why did you sell marijuana?", either both or one of the women replied, that the meager monthly income they receive (I believe they were also receiving food stamps at the time) isn't enough to cover everything needed within their homes [or apartments] since they are continually sacrificing something that is needed to live for another day-more like a give and take situation.

I don't know nor have seen a follow up article on what happened to these women afterward. I do understand, though, since those thoughts had crossed my mind, several times over the years; numerous days and weeks over the years when there was nothing to eat and slumber became my conclusion to hunger. Maybe four times a month I'd be able to eat a healthy meal, and that's the way it's gone. I have held out, not asking for any help , needing to believe that things will be better tomorrow. . .it will be alright when the next day comes. . .

One of many, on a personal example:

Nearing the end of 2005, ( I couldn't believe what I heard nor understood why), I read an article on , I think it was some sort of RX reform-type- news, that "our government", must believe that hundreds of thousands, like myself, who are trying to live on our "not-living-on-a-fair", fixed, income, that one of those idiot somebodies decided , that we, the poor, disabled and seniors "must have more than plenty of money" to start making "co-payments" for our medications starting in January, 2006. I was numb. . . after scanning the majority of the story. . .just couldn't believe the despicable greed of those making these decisions on "our behalf "!

What the @#%$ were they thinking when these "delegates of the people" cane up with this "law"? Certainly doesn't and hasn't benefited me, not at all! I couldn't. . . [and hundreds of thousands of fixed-income Americans just like myself] cannot, in all actuality, live off of, nor afford to live on the meager amount I receive now! There's no decent life to live. . . the way I would like to, not with what I receive monthly.

And you. . . congress, slap another bill we must out pay for, to get our prescriptions filled? Especially where there's so many baby boomers, the disabled (both mentally and physically, having life-threatening ailments, they must make damn sure that their medications are the first item on the agenda to be take care of and pay out for. Trying to pay as you can, what you can, afford and trying to make the right decision is some of the the most difficult choices to make, and believe it, this is every month. . . it isn't easy folks nor gets easier!

I can't even recall the last time that all my bills had a zero balance. What was "our government" thinking when this became "law"? Is there a place where a person, on a fixed income, can live a comfortable lifestyle...healthy and without worry? Please tell me!

In "their eyes", we are just an after-thought, last class citizens, something to. . ."take care of with a smile", when they feel like they're ready to address our "situation". We are tired of the crap you continually dish out to us, our environment, animals, and the deforestation of our natural resources of this planet. We aren't items to be put away locked out of sight nor are we aren't fair game for you to exploit, degrade and treat like our existence has no relevance to your decisions.

You, in Washington, D.C., need to change your thought process, and see the reality that's fast approaching,...if you don't recognize that truth when it comes, you'll wander in blindness delivered by the greed you've bedded., Weathering the burden of the "all mighty dollar, your resolution is no longer opened for adjustments. The treachery you enjoy will fester the culpability most deserved.,.where you're doomed to repeat your arrogance without fail.

Thank you for reading

SPYING ON THE AMERICANS?? WHO?!

If you aren't into world news and political events, then this is definitely news for you!
President Bush and his administration, now have the power, [courtesy of our "Democratic leaders”] to SPY on AMERICANS without court order! Yes, you read this correctly! And the "person" Bush is leaving to the collecting of any and all information to, is his Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales.

And I quote from the e-mail I received today from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union):
"Democratic “leaders” have crossed the line and betrayed the will of the majority who put them in power in 2006. This week, a timid Congress caved in to President Bush and his demand for more out-of-control authority to spy on Americans

The FISA gutting legislation voted on last weekend allows for massive, untargeted collection of Americans’ international communications without court order. The law allows for no meaningful oversight by either Congress or the courts and leaves decisions about the collection, mining and use of American information up to the Bush Administration’s Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales."

"And it never had to happen if leaders in the House and Senate had had the courage to take a stand and say, "no, no more” to the Bush administration."
Source: All " ", ACLU email I received today, August 8, 2007

So, earlier today, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) "filed an unprecedented demand with the Foreign intelligence Surveillance Court, seeking the disclosure of court records cited by supporters of the president's horrendous FISA overhaul."

"These are secret documents, which played a pivotal role in the undoing of legal safeguards that have stood for three decades". Why and how has this happened, you ask? There are many reasons [or excuses] why the American people weren't, or didn't care, to be informed. I too, am guilty of this as well, until this president Bush took office, since I did not vote for him.
Source: All " ", ACLU email I received today, August 8th, 2007

We need to stand with the ACLU to tell both Senate Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that we are tired of of our rights not being defended, protected and secured by the people we voted into office.

"The ACLU is launching a major new campaign to hold Congress accountable, and they can't do it without us!. Stand with the ACLU today sending Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi a wake up call that is past due."
Source: All " ", ACLU email I received today, August 8th, 2007

Below, are the links to read the articles, sign the petition, and get others in the know as well. We cannot allow this continue, or the basic premises that the United States of America was founded on, will cease to exist.

"Disappearing Freedoms in America"

"Spread The Word About What We are Losing and Need to Regain"

MAMMALS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT "GROWL"

I recently found out that there are two snakes that "growl" just like many mammals do. Believe it, the two snakes are, the King Cobra and the Rat Snake!

I gained this knowledge by watching National Geographic as well as Animal Planet, and the Discovery Channel, all of, who, excel in their own productions on the subject.

There was a lot of information on the King Cobra and how it's able to growl. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of information on the Rat Snake, just the stating of them growling as well as the King Cobra using the same parts within their bodies.


The reason why these two snakes do growl:

The King Cobra and the Rat Snake would fill air into it's lungs and then will constrict it's body quickly. This move would force air into it's "glottis" which is between it's vocal cords. What comes out is a long, growl, which sounds like a dogs growl! And it really does sound like a dog, and who would think that the growl was coming from a snake. The growl lets you know that the King and the Rat Snake are upset, angry ands just about to pounce on whatever is bothering them or prey. Remember, that the King Cobra is also a venomous snake and can grow up to 18 feet. The Rat Snake doesn't grow as long nor are they venomous. Rat Snakes are basically, constrictors.

Animal Planet states about the King Cobra, "A special resonating chamber in the snake's tracheal (tracheal diverticula) lung may give the sound its characteristic low pitch, which is unique among snakes. (The tracheal lung is an enlarged throat that wraps around the windpipe, allowing the king cobra to breathe while it's swallowing prey.)"

There are many different Rat Snakes all over the world similar in size, the longest, 7 feet and varying in colors. I wasn't able to find anything more about them, if they all growled or just a special few. And I searched many websites about the Rat Snakes and still wasn't able to find enough info on the subject.


And that's their story! If anybody has found any information about which Rat Snake does growl [or if they all do], please leave a comment and list the website where you found the info, so that I can update my article, here.

HOPE YOU LIKE MY "SIG"

I am pretty creative in writing poetry, and I also use several different mediums to draw landscapes, abstracts, and the like. I saw my youngest daughter, making a "render", a "sig", and thought, I would like to give this try (placing an image on a background I made) as well!

After several tries over the months, I have finally gotten down the gist (the understanding) of how to do this. The word, "sig" means signature. And using Adobe Photoshop is how I did the background as well as placing the images exactly where I wanted them.

I took the image from one of the anime shows I watch, called "Claymore" and also took a "goth-type" image as well and placed them together on the background I made. Hope you like!

There are several sources that you can use to learn how to do this as well or just trying different things yourself. I asked my daughter a few questions and took it from there and I used one source [which is listed below].

I will be trying my hand at moving animated characters as well, and am working on this little by little, daily [in between everything else I am doing]!

Beginners Guide To Making Sigs & Renders

By B.F.2 S. Forums

The Beginning: Render & Sigs
The one I chose is
By Johnny


Sig Tutorials
The one I chose is
By Vision

DID YOU HERE ABOUT...

You never think it will happen so far up the East Coast, but it did...a tornado! The tornado was an F0-F1 [on the Fujita Scale] (depending on the news networks), hit outside of Islip Terrace, NY on Long Island dated, July 18th, 2007 due to severe thunderstorms in the area. Bet that surprised everybody!

Power was out for over 50,000 customers in the Nassau and Suffolk areas. I was checking this out on the CBS-early morning news, while I was up earlier than usual.

I decided to check if this was "news worthy" to many in the area and was pleasantly surprised that this did make some of the major papers last week along with several online news networks including USA Today, and The NY Times. From what I heard and read, there was damage and no injuries, which is always a good thing!

Like the forecasters from The Weather Channel have said, "tornado's can show up anywhere"!

FALSE ADVERTISING...HAVE YOU BEEN "DUPED"

Just letting you know about an e-mailed I received today regarding "HDTVs". I am passing this on, so that anywho purchased an HDTV models from 2005 and 2006, may need to file a false advertising claim.

Here is the information:

"Beginning in 2005
Display manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, JVC, Toshiba and Mitsubishi began selling -- and touting -- new "1080p" High-Definition TVs. According to their manufacturers, these new LCD, DLP and plasma sets -- with a horizontal resolution of 1920 dots across by 1080 vertical lines (i.e. 1920x1080 pixels) -- produced the smoothest, clearest picture possible."

THE PROBLEM:

"The HDTV manufacturers never bothered to explain -- is that, if you try to plug a 1080p output to the 1080i input of a 1080p display, you will get no image. These "1080p" HDTVs are unable to accept the 1080p signals from any device, including Sony's PS3, Blu-Ray players and HD-DVDs.

Common 1080p Television Manufacturers:

*Samsung*

*Sony*

*JVC*

*Mitsubishi*

*Toshiba*

March 9, 2007

"All 1080p displays can only display images progressively (each resolution line has to be displayed at the same time) and because of this they all have to deinterlace interlaced transmissions before displaying. The deinterlacing can be done correctly (by weaving the 1080 lines together) or incorrectly by taking 540 of the lines and just doubling them. The technology for the latter method (called bobing) is cheaper but you are also throwing away half of the resolution. The use of bobing for interlacing on those 1080p displays which only have 1080i inputs may amount to false advertising."

HDTVs Not What They Seem

"High Definition Televisions (HDTVs) have become a popular new purchase; however, some people do not realize that some of the 1080p HDTVs have a defect because they are not compatible with all 1080p devices.

If you purchased a "1080p" HDTV in 2005 or 2006, and would like to speak to an attorney about your experience please take a moment to fill out this form to send your complaint."

**All of the above is quoted from Legal Lead Host**

"GET THE HELP YOU DESERVE

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE:"

If the above applies to you, please click on the title, "FALSE ADVERTISING...HAVE YOU BEEN DUPED", [or the "LINK" below] and review the information, then fill out the form so that you can find out what options are available to you (this applies to US RESIDENTS ONLY).

HDTVs & FRAUD

by LLH

Caldera In Yellowstone National Park

Some of you may say,"what...what's a caldera? Well, I have always been fascinated with nature, be it the planet, animals, weather, events that can change the world etc.

A "caldera", is a flat volcano also known as a super volcano, and Yellowstone National Park has one that is two-thirds of the entire park. This will eventually blow it's just a question of time as to when it will happen. When it does blow this will be a catastrophic event. The pyroclastic flows will move like lightening ( this is an assumption,(that I believe) that it will be pyroclastic flows, since nobody in this day and age has ever seen such a cataclysmic event) across the land. Yellowstone's caldera is the largest one known, in the United States (there is another caldera in California and one in New Mexico that the scientists, volcanologist's, and geologists know of).

There are over 20 known calderas on this planet. Toba on( now a lake stands where the eruption blew called Lake Toba),one of Indonesia's (they have the most volcanoes) islands, was a super volcano. It's thought [by those who came to this conclusion], to have almost exterminated the human race, with only a few thousand left living after the mega eruption blast, almost 80,000 years ago.

Everything and everyone on this planet Earth, will be affected when this occurs. You know the scientists, volcanologist's, and geologists, have their thoughts as to when Yellowstone's caldera will blow. There is one that does know ...and the caldera of Yellowstone isn't telling anybody...yet.

If you'd like to check out more information about Yellowstone's caldera, calderas itself (better to put in your search engine "super volcanoes" instead of calderas),and Toba, you can use your search engine or do like I did...watch National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, and the History channel where the episodes are on throughout the year. Check the channel's sites itself to get the dates and times when it will run again or check your TV/Cable guide for the listings. The other sources I found several times several months ago, using various search engines, is listed below.

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of knowledge!  

**UPDATE**

The first six months of 2009, Yellowstone had a swarm of hundreds of earthquakes, some with a magnitude in the 3-4 range. In a 10 day period, close to 500 earthquakes rumbled.  Still, it's stated on the Yellowstone National Park website there is still no cause to be alarmed.

 

Sources:
Yellowstone National Park
 Yellowstone.net

Calderas
by USGS.gov

Super Volcanoes

by Discovery Channel

My First Time Doin' Blogging

This is new for me and I do hope that whatever you gain from reading my blog will keep you coming back for more interesting facts, tidbits of knowledge, while I continue writing many things you may not expect.

We all have our views and the way we see things so differently and I hope you share with me as well by leaving your comments so that I may read them. I will try to get back to you on your statements as well. :-)

Enjoy reading and pass the word about the "Newbie"!