Posts Tagged ‘at&t’

Something Beautiful – Summer Story Tellers

{ June 23, 2010 @ 4:48 am } · { Inner Thoughts, Music, Religion }
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I was famous once.  Back when myspace was first getting started, I wrote the blog that had to be read by about 20 friends.  I thought I was special.  I wrote blogs about songs and life and gave them controversial titles.  I am not sure why music can move us in a way other words cannot.  Music is truly the “great communicator.”  I’ve been stirred by a few songs as of late, and I would like to share them with you and why they have been meaningful.

“Something Beautiful” – needtobreathe (click to listen for free)

This is a fairly simplistic song written while actually looking for inspiration.  The main chorus is something I (and countless others) can identify with:

Hey now, this is my desire/Consume me like a fire/Cause I just want

Something beautiful to touch me/I know that I’m in reach/I am down on my knees

And waiting for/Something beautiful

The writer can’t even describe what he wants (“something”) all he knows is it has to be “beautiful.”  Beauty is relative though.  One saying is “beauty is skin deep but ugly goes straight to the bone.”  But this isn’t the beauty we’re talking about, otherwise he would have described it.  No the beauty he is speaking of is indescribable but tangible.  Readily available but not “on demand.”  I know the writer’s background.  Though this song was played on a recent episode of “Cougartown;” he is writing about something a bit more spiritual than a moment with a woman.  This is something I can identify with.  I remember times in my life where I felt I was ankle deep in the ocean of “Something Beautiful.”  Sometimes I had been searching for it, sometimes it found me.  Those times, where time seemed to have stood still, were intimate and inspirational and always left me with an odd mix of satisfaction and wanting more.

I’ll be honest with you, it’s been one of the more “dry” times in my spiritual life.  Its like I’m dialing the number and it rings then silence.  You say “hello? HELLO?!” and no answer (you At&t customers know what I’m talking about).

I, like King David, have enough memories of God’s faithfulness and those intimate times to be satisfied if He chose never to speak to me again.  Yet, I don’t stop seeking Him.  I never stop requesting His presence because sometimes it’s nice just to be in the presence of something beautiful.

iPhone 2012, I can wait and so can you. Here’s why:

{ May 12, 2010 @ 8:31 am } · { Review, Uncategorized }
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First of all, I’m glad the contract with AT&T was signed.  Originally I was not. Originally I was a frustrated Verizon customer who wanted a decent phone and who maybe had a big crush on Steve Jobs.  Three years later, I’m over it.  And you should be too.

I’ve had the iPhone while I was in Australia.  There were multiple carriers (I chose Singapore based Optus of Verizon owned Vodafone).  The competition was pretty good, driving down prices and there wasn’t an obsession with the iPhone. Living overseas helped me understand that the iPhone phenomenon/worship is really an American thing.  There are other phones out there that are good.  Though I was pleased with the iPhone and came back to the States singing it’s praise.

Upon arrival to the States I HAD to have an iPhone.  Reluctantly my wife surprised me with one for my birthday.  I was greeted with spotty service with AT&T and the WORST customer service at an Apple store. Jim Gaffigan joked his iPhone turns into an aolPhone outside large cities (referencing 1995 internet speeds).  It wasn’t meeting our needs. I took it back.  I recently purchased a Palm Pre Plus 3g with free mobile Hotspot.  Basically for my minutes plan plus a $30/month data package I get unlimited data on my phone anywhere in the country and unlimited internet for up to 5 devices (i.e. my macbook).  This saves us from paying an internet bill and that’s a good thing! You can’t do that (legally) with an iPhone.

I have been thoroughly impressed with the Palm Pre Plus.  Multi-tasking, great webOS, useful apps (though I’m hoping they will increase in number), downloading multiple iTunes music libraries (accounts) was easier than on the actual iPhone. In fact, the iPod Touch I bought to replace my iPhone has been rendered useless by the Pre and is now my wife’s (who is not useless).

So why should you wait? Why was it a good thing for the contract? Imagine in 2007 the iPhone drops to all carriers.  130 Million people would have an iPhone.  Then everyone would have an iPhone 3G, then 3Gs.  Still no multi tasking, not too much space on harddrive.  We would be stuck. No creative competition to make the iPhone better or for people to realize there are better/other alternatives out there.

People are already saying that in 2012 they will definitely get the Verizon iPhone.  I bet Steve Jobs will let you go ahead and sign a contract too.  He’s good at selling you something he tells you you need.  A macbook may be a must have, but the iPhone isn’t. No matter the carrier.

iPhone Rant

{ March 1, 2010 @ 8:22 am } · { Inner Thoughts }
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My wonderful wife bought me an iPhone for my birthday last week. I was surprised and very thankful for her thoughtful gift. Why was it thoughtful? Because I had one while we were in Australia and thought it was te best thing since sliced bread. I’ll be honest, it was tough going back to a flip phone when we got back to the states.

So when I opened that sleek, well designed box, I could barely contain myself knowing the capabilities of this beautiful piece of modern technology.

However, I noticed we weren’t in a 3g area. In fact, being near the center of the city and close to the highway, I barely had any bars. I passed over this obstacle though because of how good the device is. Unfortunately, as the old saying goes, you are only as good as your weakest link. And AT&T YOU are the weakest link.

Now it was our choice to live in a smaller community, and we knew there would be some things lacking. Phone coverage was not one of them. The maps commercials duped us!

So this is the deal, why put a 4 cylinder engine in a corvette? That’s what you get with the iPhone on AT&T’s network. Granted I wouldn’t be writing this if I was near 3g coverage, but I don’t.

Now does this mean I’ll go with verizon? More reliable network but their phones aren’t good. T-mobile and sprint have better values, but even more unreliable networks and ugly phones. What is this american man supposed to do? I want a ’69 camaro ss, with all the power and sexiness that goes with it.

Is it too much to ask for that in a smarthone as well?

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