Recently, I gave in and purchased an iPhone. It has been a long time coming and I seriously tried to find an alternative (from AT&T). However, I couldn’t find a phone that browses the Internet better. I was also excited to try out some apps.

The last straw was this trip to the slope. I didn’t have high hopes of having that much to do when not working. My old BB curve was nearing the end of it’s life.

It’s been great to have games to play and other apps like WordPress! It allows me to blog while exercising at the gym (just finished rising a bike). Granted, I’m only doing this because I don’t I’ve much time to do things after work wihout sleeping less.

Working 12+ hour days the last week is something new for me. Having to get up between 4am and 5am each morning hasn’t been as bad I thought. It just means that I need to go to bed earlier (which hasn’t happened).

I have been intrigued by the rotations that people have been working up here. Two weeks on, two weeks off is pretty common. It’s really not that bad. You work 6 months of the year and get 6 off. Not bad. Overall, you might work more hours, but you get way more time off!

It’s been an interesting week. I’ve had the lucky opportunity to travel up to Alaska on business and visit the North Slope. It’s like no other trip that I’ve ever taken. I really didn’t know what to expect when I got here. I had to take some “arctic survival” training before even flying up to Deadhorse, AK because we’re coming up during the winter months.

Deadhorse is such an interesting place. It’s populated by hundreds of individuals working almost exclusively for the oil and gas industry. Lots of warehouses and equipment all here to support the drilling and other activities going on. I must say that the accommodations have been much better than expected. The Aurora is a fairly new hotel with lots of great ammenities: flat screen TVs, satellite TV, Internet access, tons of food, a gym, laundry facilities, etc. Maybe I’m just lucky, but it’s been a pretty nice gig given the remote environment that we’re working.

In honor of all who lost their lives 8 years ago.

(Source: Associated Press)

So, I’ve been thinking about our current economic situation and what the current administration has done. While I don’t agree with many of Obama’s stances and policies, I have found myself willing to take advantage of the “free money” he’s offering.

1) $8,000 to new home buyers
2) Upcoming “Cash for clunkers” $4,500

Even before the economy tanked, Diane and I were already planning to purchase a home in 2009. However, we sure didn’t mind getting $8,000 cash back from the government. Not to mention the killer interest rate (low 4%)–although, I don’t give Obama credit for that.

Now, there’s the “Cash for Clunkers” bill that was just passed by the Senate. Diane and I were already planning to purchase a Smart car (ordered it last August). If it passes the House, then we’ll score another $4,500 from the fed (not actual cash back, but $ knocked off the total price).

All in all, we’re set to receive $12K+ from the government. While I haven’t championed or supported these bills, I’ve definitely taken advantage of them. Conflict of interest?

So, I’m looking to change a flight from one month to another due to circumstances that changed two days after making the reservations. Cost to change each ticket: $150!!! The price of each ticket for the old and new flight: $215!! What on earth are they thinking?

Let Continental and all other airlines that gouge you with such fees go bankrupt.

Old news to some, but I just read about this and found it to be fascinating. For the technical explanation, please visit Paul Lemere’s blog. Essentially, a few hackers figured out how to manipulate the Time.com poll. If you look at the first letter of the top 21 people, you’ll notice that it spells “Marblecake also the game.”

It doesn’t have much significance to me, but according to the blog:

Marblecake was an irc channel where the “Message to Scientology” video originated. Many believe we are “dead” or only doing hugraids etc, so I thought it would also be a way of saying : we’re still around and we don’t just do only “moralfag” stuff .

I was on on Mint.com the other week (while at work) and I received the following error message. It was pretty funny, imo.

Let me ask you a simple question. Would you jump over a fence and wade in a moat during a polar bear’s feeding time? NO! So, why did this woman do such a stupid thing? It ceases to amaze me that people can be so dumb.

First off, my heart goes out to the family of the couple that perished in this fire. It’s a terrible thing that have occured. The question I ask is, “Is it really worth it?”

To summarize, the family had time to escape the blaze. However, the son decided to go back into the house to save the cat. The 80-year old couple waited for the son, but they lost their lives as the flames engulfed the truck. The son suffered second- and third-degree burns.

The cost to save a cat: 2 lives and almost a third.

It’s not that I dislike animals; it’s just that I sometimes don’t understand how individuals are willing to sacrifice their own lives (and others’ lives) to save a pet.