So, for the past seven years, I have been land-line free in phone service, solely having a cell phone as my main, and only phone. That began just as I made my third, and last, move to Cheyenne, Wyoming. I really don't recall my reasoning to going completely cellular, and frankly, as I think about it now, I am kind of amazed that I made such a choice back then.

Anyway, in looking for service providers, I wanted someone who not only provided service in Cheyenne and Wyoming, (very few and far between, even still today), as well as Colorado, but of course obviously could still have service when I visited back home here in the Omaha metro area, and up in the Norfolk area, where me daid, and and little brother resided. The only one at the time that did so, was Qwest.

Ever since then, Qwest has happily been my service provider. I have not once, that I can recall, had any issue with service, no matter where I have been, and like I have said, have been nothing but happy with having and continuing going through them for my wireless phone service.

Well, that is going to change, because Qwest is going to change and no longer provide wireless services. They are migrating all of their customers to Verizon Wireless. I started getting things in the mail telling of this, late Summer. Honestly, it didn't make me too happy. I don't want Verizon, if I wanted to have Verizon, I would have moved to Verizon... but obviously, never have. But, since I now apparently had no choice in the matter with Qwest now doing this, I've been looking into Verizon, when I have had a mo' to do so.

Well first, it seems one has to choose a phone, before seeing what plans and such one can get (online, at least, that is). So, I browsed all the phone offerings, which I must say, is a mark against Qwest that I have had - they have always had the lousiest and slimmest choice of phones available to choose from... anyway, naturally, Verizon had a lot to choose from.

When I first went cellular, all I wanted was just a phone, that's it, nothing more. Nothing fancy, no extra fancy crap, I just want it to be a phone, period. And that philosophy stuck, until earlier this year, when I renewed my service plan with Qwest, I decided to acquire a piece of equipment that was more than merely a phone to make phone calls only with... acquiring that Samsung phone you see at the top left. Now I have the ability to do the texting thing, picture mail (oh, and obviously the cell phone having a camera ability to take pictures), access to the web, and all the like.

I have grown accustom to those features, and find that they are handy to have those mobile abilities at my disposal to use, namely the ability to send off a quick IM text... or quickly share a picture to someone, taken with the phone... as well as being able to access and read the news on my breaks or lunches, or the bus ride home... to check the weather and radar... and so would like to continue to have those abilities.

Looking into Verizon's choice of phones, I selected the one shown above - LG's enV2. It looked like a nicer phone to be able to continue to do those things I like and enjoy, and more importantly, was rated as being a phone with good reception in calls, which overall is still the predominantly important factor for a phone, because, well - it's a bloody phone!

So, with the phone selected, was able to move forward to service plans available. With the selection of the phone, I was actually getting a little excited at the switch of providers, just to get the nicer phone... but moving on to the plans, it all fell apart. To get a service plan that is comparable to what I have and get now, I would have to pay twenty extra bucks a month, and get fifty less minutes a month allotted to me. Yeah, I don't think so. I think I am paying too much a month as it is now for what I have, even though, as I said, I like all that I am getting, and have the ability to do, but still, it is really not worth the cost I spend a month to receive it all. All those extra neat things, are infrequently used, but do very much like having the ability and convenience of being able to utilize them when I want to, so why I wish to continue having all the extra bells and whistles. But for twenty extra bucks a month now?! Yeah, no. Not going to happen.

So, I called Qwest to learn more about all of this and see if I was understanding this right. And they confirmed that was correct. Another thing they confirmed, which I just learned recently in my research of this Qwest to Verizon change, was that all the wireless service that I have had with Qwest, was really through Sprint. Qwest was leasing Sprint service, and just reselling their service under their Qwest name. Which, if I was anywhere near bright, and cared enough to pay attention, would have already deduced, seeing as the extra bells and whistles that I have had with my plan since this Spring, was done through Sprint Vision and mobile services.... I just never thought twice about it, and thought it was just a sharing thing Qwest was doing with them... again, bottom line, I just really didn't care less either way to think more about it and put the pieces together.

So, if all this time, I have really had Sprint service, and I have never had a problem with the service I have had through all of these years, and have been happy enough to keep going with Qwest ever since, well then, logically - Sprint would be the service I would want to continue and migrate to fully, instead of Verizon. So, I asked the Qwest dude on the phone if I would be able to do that... and be able to do that by not being assessed termination and initiation fees, like Qwest said they would waive for their customers migrating to Verizon... and he said, no dice. But, in February, when Qwest will completely stop their wireless/Sprint service, and it will all then be Verizon, I then would be able to forfeit my contract (which is what they really they are doing - I signed a two year contract with them this Spring, and if this all weren't happening, and I was to just choose to leave Qwest for some other service provider, I would be charged a penalty for breaking that contract... but it is Qwest who is breaking that two year contract by no longer providing the service that they agreed to provide me, and I agreed to receive) without penalty, and be free to then go with any service provider at that point and time.

So, right now, I think that is what I am going to do. I have no problem or qualms with my current service, just as I never have, so will continue to receive it until next February and it ceases to exist through Qwest, and just sign on with Sprint. After learning all of this, I hopped on the Sprint site and browsed their selection of phones, and the Samsung Rant shown above, would be the one i would be interested in getting... but, will see come February... may be another better choice available to choose instead.

Plus, I may just dump all of them and actually get the iPhone and go through AT&T. It's only logical, my being an avid Apple man, to get the iPhone, which I would like to have... so, who knows.

Anyway, that is the ever-so-exciting phone service doings, that I felt like sharing with you all, for some reason... and so, there you go.

In other news, I have finished going through and editing one of the rolls of film I got developed last week, and can update my Last Roll section now... but think I am going to hold off on doing so until I get the redesign of the home/main page done. Why? I don't know... just feel like it. And that home/main page, I haven't worked on since writing about it in my previous entry.... will see.

Things at the new gig are going all right... I honestly thought last friday, that I was going to decide against it, that I would just finish out this past weekend, and then tell them that it just wasn't going to work out, that it wasn't a good fit. But, am giving it a chance, for more reasons than one. A great big huge one being my not wanting to have to continue to look for work! Last friday night, I was so dejected, stressed, bothered that this new job wasn't going to fit the bill and work out, really bummin' me out. But, slept on it, and the weekend went better than I expected, and I am becoming more acclimated with it, keeping my mind open with it and being patient with it all. Because I do want it to work out, I was excited about getting it, not only for having a frickin' job once again, but also because it was in the photography field, as well as leading to a direction that I want for my future... so I am glad that it looks like that it may be all right and work out.

Okay, so well anyway, my friends - more than enough babble for today. I'll try to get the home/main page up soon, as well as my latest work posted... until then, take care, and all the best to you.

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Yesterday I worked a good deal on trying to tweak this one aspect of the new design of the JPH.org home/main page, to no avail.

I had found this javascript code that was exactly what I was looking for, but for the life of me, couldn't get the blasted thing to even work, let alone customized to how I was wanting it. So, that was a bit frustrating, and leaves me rethinking how I do want to do this one part of the redesign.

I already have something that will do the job, and do it effectively. Problem is - me. Me being too damn anal and nit-picky, and the devil being in the details, and my wanting things to just be exactly how I would like them to be... which nobody would ever notice or care if what it is I want to do is even done... but that doesn't matter, because I will!

So, bottom line, I will play with it a little bit more, until I come to some kind of satisfactory result for my discriminating self.

One wonderful thing though - today, i finally went and got developed the four rolls of film I have had just sitting here on my desk! Yay! Woo-hoo! Sort of sucks that, for the first time in almost two years, I am no longer working in a photo lab so that I can just easily do it myself, but is all right... I got 'er done.

So, I am looking forward to getting to and working on these photos I have taken in the past couple months, and will get them posted by and by. :-)

Oh, have I mentioned that I am once again gainfully employed? Well, I am. In my stressful holding out to try and find something along the lines I was wanting to do and work in, that being photography, I was fortunate enough to land a position with a portrait studio. What I am most excited about it, aside from still having work that is in the photography field, is that there is good room for growth, which my previous photo lab stint had absolutely none of. Plus, that growth also potentially leading me the opportunity to make the long awaited move east towards New York City, baby!

So, anyway - there you go. I am now going to get started on working on roll number one! Have a good one, and all the best to you!

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I am getting there with the redo of the design and layout of the website... well, at least the main/home page, which I am about three-quarters of the way complete.

All I have left to do with it, is finish up the third column / right sidebar section... I am wanting to tweak and improve on something that I have and like, but just want it to be a little better, which I found a way to do, just need to figure out how to do it the way I like.

Overall, I like this way a lot better than my current main/homepage that my guests see when they first access and see my site now, that dead page where all it is, is the website 'book cover'... with the new main page, everything and all on my website will be able to be accessed directly from the home page... a lot more user, navigational, search engine friendly.

I really am excited about the new design, in fact when I get this main page complete, I will upload immediately and make it live. Although the rest of the site won't match it for a little while, with it still being under the current, older design and layout, I want to that main page up and available for y'all. The rest will come by and by.... with the Journal here, being the next completed area to get done and up... then possibly my Films section... you, know the easier areas first... the Photography, and bulk of my site, being last... that area being put up in bits and pieces, until all complete.

Okay, so well anyway... Things are finally, all right, currently, on the employment front again. Finally got a Photographer position at a studio that I originally applied for over a month ago, and didn't finally get until late last week. Will see with it. I like it, want to go with it, but just am very uncomfortable with it's cattle drive, fast-food photography emphasis, of just get the people in, photograph them in break neck speed... you know, it's all about the turn-around - the more we drive in and out, the more god almighty important dollar to be gotten... I don't know, we'll see. I don't want to lose or not have the job for more reasons than one, namely being frickin' back out on the streets trying to find something in this pathetic town and current economic environment... so I am going to try and bend as much as I can for their system, and just remind myself to just try and do so for the next month or so, during the rush and onslaught of holiday business, where after which will be more conducive to attention, care and detail able to be given to the clients coming in and wanting their photos taken.

All, speaking of there, need to finish up here, and with my breakfast and head off to it... will do my first sitting this morning.

Have a good day everyone.

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Yesterday was a good day for America.

Congratulations to Barack Obama for his victory in becoming this country's next President, and taking on the responsibility of tackling the many pressing issues that face this country. The win goes to a deserving man, who will bring a refreshing good change to this country.

Congratulations to the American people who voted for the election of Barack Obama. Doing so allowed this country to turn a corner on a portion of it's ugly past, and head itself down a road of better and promising life for all.

Congratulations to John McCain for being an honorable and respectable man of class. During his concession speech last night, he showed the real McCain, that if he would have stuck more to his true nature and guns during the campaign, might have produced a different result last night. However, the choice to bow and court the lowest base of his political party led to his fall. He is better, more, than that hateful, ignorant, small-minded lot, which he showed last night when those losers boo'd and cat called Barack Obama several times at the mention of him in his speech, like he was addressing some pathetic junior high equivalent crowd or something, in which McCain's displeasure, disagreement, and disliking of their disrespect became evident. That is not what McCain believes in, that's not what he believes America is and stands for. But, he let himself get involved and fall into that bad crowd by seeking the support of that lower base of his political party. That's too bad.

You know, this really is a monumental election. Not only in the obvious, but also in the quality and character of the two candidates who ran for the Office. In every other election that I have been eligible to participate in, one was hard pressed to even have one candidate of respect and worth, and, in my opinion, there has not been one. But this election had not one, but two - both candidates who represented a respectable role model, for not only as a choice the position they were vying for, but as a person.

I have no doubt that McCain will continue to whole heartedly serve, support, fight and promote this country, and that he will continue to be a valued asset to this country and it's people.

Hopefully, his poor choice of VP, Sarah Palin, her fifteen minutes will fade out as the flash in the pan that she is, will just simply go back to Alaska and fall out of the spotlight, and fall back into obscurity. That's harsh, but I really just have a hard time with having patience and respect for small minded, ignorant people who believe in dictating to others what is right, wrong, how they should live and do, especially when they themselves seem to live in a cave, with their narrow minded, out dated beliefs and sensibilities. To her, those who went ga-ga over her, and those who boo'd McCain when he mentioned Obama, and those who live with fear, hate, ignorance - evolve.

Aspire and strive to be, and do, more. Look to better yourself. Live for what is right and true, not just for yourself, but all. Live to make today better than yesterday, not only for yourself, but for all. For tomorrow to lead to a happy, loving, and peaceful future not only for yourself, but for all.

Peace and love to you all. Care. Grow. Learn. Live. Love. Now let's move on and forward.

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It's the first tuesday of the eleventh month - do you know where your vote is?

Four years ago, on this date, within an hour or two of the polls closing, I relented and went and voted for the first time in my adult life. This morning, within an hour or two of the polls opening, with a more positive feeling of doing so, went and participated in my second ever patriotic duty in the elective process.

Four years ago, abandoning my up to then held philosophy of not voting for anyone who didn't inspire me to vote for them, if they didn't portray themselves as a honest, noble person of character, with whom one would feel proud to have as the leader overseeing this country and it's people - I wasn't going to just vote for someone, just because it's my patriotic right and duty to do so. The only thing I would have been doing, in the four elections that I was eligible to vote prior to 2004, would have been the voting for the lesser of two evils... and that to me, is no way a person is deemed warranting, justified, and qualified to be given a vote for the highest position in the land. To be a representative to me, and this country - someone who is the least objectionable of two candidates... and that is what the four elections were to me, and why I didn't vote in any of them.

In 2004 though, my deep seeded passion to have George duh'bya out of a position that he should have never even have been placed close to, or anywhere near to, in any capacity, let alone - holding! Even though I thought Kerry was far from being any prize himself, I relented, and just under the wire, went and participated in my first election, placing my vote for him, not too long before the polls closed... because he was, at least, the lesser of two evils. And I have felt dirty for doing so ever since. And have vowed never to do so again.

The following is being said with as much pride as I can say about anything concerning me - I proudly, PROUDLY am not a Democrat or Republican, and am in no way affiliated with either despicable party. And I couldn't be happier of that fact, and that I am a proud independent.

This morning voting, I came close to voting for one person from three different political parties... but ended up with a tally of voting for two Democrats, and one Green Party candidate. One position, it was a close selection between a Democrat and a Republican, but went with the Democrat, erasing my almost having one candidate from three different parties being voted for by me. That's the good thing by not being tied down to some political party/good-ol'-boys club, no obligation to vote for your team, but rather for the candidate, the person who deserves to be voted for, and better qualified for the position.

Of those three votes I placed though, only one led me to want to go vote this election. With (thank goodness!) Duh'bya vacating the position he never should have been allowed to have, and needing someone now to steer this country back to a standing and stature, to it's people, and the world, cleaning up the mess that the previous administration is leaving for all of us, needing someone new, needing someone fresh, who will take this country into a new and better direction. And the candidate who I feel is that breath of fresh air, who will bring that change, and new direction for this country, is Obama.

I remember first ever seeing and hearing him, four years ago at the DNC, where he was a keynote speaker to Kerry getting the nomination. I just remember thinking, wow! Who is this guy? Coming away with a better feeling of him than I did the guy he was there to support. To the left here is that speech he gave that night, and having watched it again today for the first time since, was actually sort of wishing i would have seen and heard more of this Barack during this campaign... he is so fired up and exciting here, and just haven't seen any speech he's given this campaign election that comes close to the fire and passion of this one. Like he has been more reserved during the campaign, compared to how he energetically comes across in this speech.

My voting for Barack was not a sure thing ever since his throwing himself into the ring though. I too felt his lack of experience would not have gotten him this far, and felt 2012 would have been better suited for him actually attaining what he most likely will achieve today. I don't think he is the perfect candidate, or person for the position of President, and do have a minor reservation or two of him in the position... but honestly, I am excited and hopeful that he will become President today, and couldn't be happier and proud if he does, and for my voting for him.

McCain, garnered serious consideration from me in voting. I have always liked, admired, and respected John McCain, and thought he might actually be the first Republican I would ever even consider voting for. But, he lost my vote by the direction he led his campaign, the choices he made, the decisions he chose. His erratic handling of things, leading me to not seriously consider him, some time ago. If he would have been the McCain of 2000, where and when he actually was still the "maverick" that he tried to pass off him still being, it honestly would have been a very, very, tight toss up as to who i would be voting for.

But still would have ended up voting for Obama. Reason being, I am anti-war, and McCain is a military man, and even though I believe he was sincere when he said this during his acceptance speech

"My friends, when I was 5 years old, a car pulled up in front of our house. A Navy officer rolled down the window and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I rarely saw my father again for four years.

My grandfather came home from that same war exhausted from the burdens he had borne and died the next day.

In Vietnam, where I formed the closest friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home with me.

I hate war. It's terrible beyond imagination.

I'm running for president to keep the country I love safe and prevent other families from risking their loved ones in war as my family has. I will draw on all my experience with the world and its leaders, and all the tools at our disposal -- diplomatic, economic, military, and the power of our ideals -- to build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace."

At heart, he's a military man, and his first instinct will be the fighter pilot in him, and he will choose military action first... while also attempt diplomatic alternatives, but feel that will be secondary to his first and foremost military solutions. His unwavering support of the Iraq war, that is the reason why I wouldn't have voted for McCain. I don't believe in violence, in war, for any reason, for any means. At all. Ever. And again, not saying that McCain does, but it's in his blood and who he is, and he would have that basic instinct to lead our country to war than not, I feel.

If somehow, McCain does pull out the underdog comeback and win today, I think it will be a loss, and not the best thing. But I do feel he is a good man, and would be a good leader. Even if all else plays out and the Democratic Party gets it good share of seats in both Houses, and he's a Republican President with a Democratic controlled House and Senate, I feel he will still be a good and effective President, because of his history of "reaching across the aisle" and regularly working with Democrats on numerous issues... I really wouldn't foresee him doing nothing but more of that during his Presidency, successfully too... if he wouldn't be, i would lay the blame more on the Democrats and not him for his not being so. I don't think he'd perpetuate the past eight years of Bush, that I think he opposed more than ever supported... and when he did, it was to kowtow to that conservative Republican base that he knew he would need to get support from in order to make a successful Presidential bid, and when elected, would probably go his own direction away from that base, towards his own agenda.

But, then again, another very big reason I would not have voted for McCain, is his choice to nominate as his running mate Sarah Palin. That is where he totally lost the election with me, in his selection of her. It showed that he wasn't the "maverick" and someone who would lead his Republican Party, and this country in a new direction, by nominating this neo-con Republican's wet dream to the ticket. He chose that path to kowtow to the conservative legion of losers in the Republican base... Hell, he could have chosen wimpy loser Lieberman and I wouldn't have held it against him as much as him selecting Palin. Very poor choice, and it was this that pretty much solidified Obama as my choice.

Saying all that I have about McCain though, you'd think that he was in the forefront to my vote for President. He never was, just was close in serious consideration at times... his nomination of Palin was just a final nail to my ever seriously considering him any longer. Obama, pretty much was who I was directly, and/or indirectly leaning my support towards. And unlike four years ago, when I placed a vote that I didn't agree with and really back and support (other than in attempts to hopefully get the wackjob of Bush out of Office), I whole heartedly, and proudly voted for Obama this morning. I believe, with him as President, this country will be the better for it, and a better place in the long run because of him, and what I feel he will hopefully bring, and try to accomplish during his Presidency.

My biggest fear is that some nutjob will off him, and I seriously do fear that someone will. And if that horribly does, will absolutely be no shock or surprise of what color his skin will be, and what political party that he is affiliated with. I sure hope nothing ever close comes to something like that happening. That would be so sad, and dark a stain on this country, and it's people, and it will set off a whole division within this country. I pray that ugliness never bears itself.

What a great day for this country if Obama does end up winning today! I actually would be proud to consider myself an American.

Okay, so well anyway. Here's to a better tomorrow and future. All the best to you my friends. In peace and love to you all,
Jeff

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