When comparing Sprint and Verizon’s EVDO service, Verizon usually came up short, given their 5GB monthly cap, and terms of service that restricts everything but browsing and e-mail. However, with Sprint suffering through a rocky financial stretch, it looks like their CEO has decided that customers were getting too much, for too little. drew  directs my attention to a leaked memo posted on the dslreports.com forum, which says monthly caps are coming:

Quote

Sprint reserves the right to limit throughput speeds or amount of data transferred and to deny, terminate, modify, or suspend service if usage exceeds 5GB per month in total or 300MB/month while off-network roaming. Check your subscriber agreement rights on Sprint.com.

There’s no word yet just how tough enforcement will be. You may have to cross the bandwidth gestapo at Sprint several times during the year in order to have your wrist slapped. Sprint’s CEO, in a meeting with employees, apparently told them he believes the caps will only really impact about 1% of their EVDO user base.

Source: http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Sprint-To-Impose-5GB-Monthly-EVDO-Cap-94576

Now with that said, if this is true, it will not bode well for me.  I believe that I am one of the 1% of users.  I use the card about 3-4 hours a day 3 days a week.  During this time, I am actively browsing the web and have email open.  The email is the key component here, as outlook is a bandwidth PIG!  I need to look up my statements and see how much bandwidth I am really using.  If this change is truely going to happen, I am going to cancel my service with sprint and move to verizon.  I have asked other laptop users I’ve sat with and inquired about the dead spots and they said that their service works like a champ.  I always get about 1 to 2 dead spots during my train ride.  Of course, I think I use it more (irc demands continual connection) that your average user wouldn’t notice.  If I fly under the 5 gig cap, verizon it is!  Time will tell…

OK, well for those of your that do not know, a Sierra Wireless 597E is a card that allows me to get broadband access to sprint’s networks.  I’ve had the Novatel Merlin EX720 card for a long time and very happy with it.  Every once and awhile, I check around and make sure that I have the best bang for my buck.  I mean, the Merlin card works great, but what if another card blows its socks off?  Well, after doing some research, it seems that there is NO benefit to upgrading from what I can tell.  Here are the specs between the two cards:

Sierra Wireless 597E, Express Card

• Express Card - works in Windows and Linux laptops and Macbooks
• Rev A Ready
• Broadband-like download speeds where available
• Flip-up antenna and an external port (to attach signal booster antenna)
• Sprint PCS Connection Manager^TM Software
• New chipset that supports increased upload and download speeds
• Backward compatible with all versions of the Sprint Vision and Power Vision networks
• OS Support: Windows Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS X, Linux
• Express to PC Card Adapter Included
• One Touch Activation! Software is Stored on the Device. No CD Needed.
• Updated User Guides
• Price - $329 (before any discounts)

Novatel Merlin EX720, Express Card

• Express Card - works in Windows laptops and Macbooks
• Rev A Ready
• Broadband-like download speeds where available
• Flip-up antenna and an external port (to attach signal booster antenna)
• Sprint PCS Connection Manager^TM Software
• New chipset that supports increased upload and download speeds
• Backward compatible with all versions of the sprint Vision and Power Vision networks
• OS Support: Windows Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS X
• Price - $329 (before discounts)

Now, it seems that the only benefit the newer card has (Sierra Wireless 597E for those of you that forgot) is better mac support and a bigger antenna.  While the bigger antenna would probably yield better service (logic speaking) I do not get a lot of dropped zones on my 1.5 hour train ride.  Both cards operate on the same network speeds and both cards are compatible to my laptop.  For those of you that do not have express slots, I would advise you to look into the USB alternatives.  Laptops do not come with PCMIA slots anymore, so investing in that technology would be foolish.  With that said, I do not see any reason to upgrade at the time.

So this completely baffles me.  I am minding my own business, passed out on the train.  No suprise there.  I wake up at 4:20 AM and get on a 5:40 AM train.  Of course I am going to be tired.  Anyways, I am peacefully sleeping when I hear the following…

Excuse me…

Excuse me….

EXCUSE ME…

Now, I wake up and figured it was the conductor, you know, who else would want to wake me up?  Nope.  It was some random women looking to sit across from me.  Now, as I gaze around, I see a million open seats that are completely not occupied.  There was even one just like my configuration one row up from me!  That’s right, but she wanted to sit across from me.  I am baffled!

She then pulled out a newspaper, which I hate it when people read newspapers on the train.  They are loud and annoying.  All you hear is flip flip crumble crumble over and over again.  One day I am going to rip someone’s newspaper out of their hand and tell em to shove it!  It is ruining my beauty sleep!

If the paper was not bad enough, she then started glaring at the seat next to me and then at myself.  She did this about 20 times and then said, and I quote!

“Generally people sit at the ends of the seat and then everyone has more room”

Of course, I had to respond but I was still very much groggy.  I really should of told her that she can move to another seating location, (which was still open when she made this comment) and leave me alone.  Instead, I said the following…

“I am aware of the seating configuration”

What I personally like to do, is sit in the middle of a three seater because I find it to be the most comfortable when sleeping.  When the train gets a little bit more crowded, I will move over to the left or the right to provide more seating.  I don’t see why I cannot get 20 minutes of sleep with comfort beforehand.  It is not like the 5:47 train to NYC gets all that crowded.  When I took a later train, I wouldn’t even dare do such a move.  This train, I don’t see what the fuss is!

Oh well, another day, another problem!

Well, I will be honest that the first thing I dislike about the new job is waking up at 4:30 AM!  First off, when I go to bed, my wife likes to talk!  Last night, she talked for 40 minutes.  40 bloody minutes!  I tried hard and long to get her to shut up, but she just kept on going.  Secondly, I had a hard time falling asleep after this.  When I sum everything up, I got about 4 hours of sleep, and not good sleep mind you.  I probably woke up 4 times throughout the night.  It doesn’t help that my cat gets something in her head around 1 am that she wants to attack me and wake me up.  I think the cat thinks its funny.  I don’t know, I don’t get it.

Anyways, the drive to the train station is nice at 4:30 AM.  There are very few cars, and everyone drives really fast.  I like driving fast, but I like driving fast behind someone else better!  If I get pulled over for speeding, at least I can say I was following the flow of traffic.  Well, there is no traffic at this time, but who is counting?

The train itself is nice mostly due to the little amount of people there are.  The stop I get on at is the first stop, and therefore seats are a plenty.  Sitting is very important for me, mostly because the train ride is around 90 minutes.  Unfortunately, at this time, the seats are still the fucking seats from 1970.  This annoys me because they had revamped this line and put in all new seating.  I guess they haven’t gotten to all the trains yet?  Thankfully, it is the nicer cars of the 1970 seating, but is that really the point?

Well, I will be here enjoying my commute!  Everyone get to work safely!

As I am driving down the highway in this morning’s commute, I look to the right of me and notice a van with lights on it.  Immediate warning signs flash on in my head and I slow down.  I check my speed limit and this damned thing made me go from 80 mph to 67 mph.  Slightly irate that I have a fellow cop on the highways with me, I wanted to further inspect this van to find out where it is from.  I mean, if it is a NY cop, I just entered CT again and can travel back at normal happy speeds.  If it is an interstate police car, I figured I would get pulled over in another few minutes.  It was very important to know what I was getting into.

This all happened in about 30 seconds.  My mind began to slow down and I started processing real thoughts again.  I take a second look at the van and it is not a cop at all!  I continue to study the van as I take my car up to 73 mph.  I notice that it is an Adopt a Highway  van.  This makes me wonder first, why adopt a highway has vans in the first place?  What are they vanning? Highways?  Mexicans?  Drugs? Aliens?

Well, as my civic duty as an American, I decided to follow said van, of course, until it doesn’t go the same direction that I was going!  Well, I get off of 684 with this drug cartel van and notice that it wants to take a service road entrance.  I figure, well, that may be why it says “Do not follow”  I started to relax a bit but then it quickly turns off its blinker and keeps driving straight!  I wonder why?  It looked like it was going down that service road.

As I approach the service road, I notice something that I fear more than aliens.  It is a cop with a speed gun!   I slow down to suggested speeds on an off-ramp and wonder again…Mexicans, drugs, aliens, ZOMBIES?!?!? I continue to track this zombie carrying van as we get onto 284 and happens to take my exit.  THANK GOD!  It is slightly strange though, since my exit is not the popular one to take.  My exit goes towards Rye instead of NYC.  Everyone is driving to NYC, except for me and the drug cartel van!

At this point, the van knows that I am in hot pursuit and pulls a fast one on me!  It gets off 287 on an exit that isn’t the one I am getting off of!  I will find more information out about this adopt a highway scam with or without the van!  Just you wait!

The Sillican Files are on the case!  Part two will be to find out more about this scandal and expose them for who they are!

ZOMBIE SHEEP

As I was driving to work this morning, I heard the report.  I was flabbergasted.  It started like this “There is a report that there is a sheep eating grass off of 95.  Expect curiosity delays.” Now how does one get to the zombie part?  Oh let me explain.  There is no official report that it is a zombie but I think after reading this article, we will all agree, it is a zombie and we should load up the shotguns.

1. As you watch all zombie movies, most times the disease is spread through the testing of animals.  Generally it is a monkey, but why use monkeys when you have sheep?  I mean, sheep are easier to get than monkeys, therefore it is the only logical choice.  Take these zombie movies as an example.

• “Pet Cemetery” - Could someone of buried their beloved sheep in the tainted lands of a voodoo Pet cemetery?  The sheep comes back from the grave and runs rampant on 95?  Oh it could happen…those poor people who just moved from Kansas and lost their sheep to a big rig.  If only the father did not want to tell his daughter.  This all could of been avoided!
• “Resident Evil” - Could a evil empire corporation be doing experiments on sheep? What if one was ejected by the virus and turned.  Then it took out all of the scientists and broke free.  We are on a verge of a epidemic!
• 28 Days Later - It only takes one drop of blood to turn you.  Could the sheep of been grazing along and then POOF, hello zombie sheep?  The poor sheep, it just wanted to eat, sleep, and grow fur!

2. What is a sheep doing in Connecticut in the first place?  They belong in other areas that have more suitable farmland.  For fun, I did look up how many sheep farms CT has.  The list is about 50 farms, but none are in Westport, where the sitting has occurred.  Could a zombie sheep hoof it to Westport?  I think so!  A regular sheep?  Not a chance!

3. With the rampant disregard for cloning, it is due for some zombie sheep to come our way.  We need to stop the scientific advancement of zombies!  If we are not careful, we will see our great nation fall to the zombie movement!

4.  You be the judge.  I will have my shotgun ready with lemonade waiting for the end while you are busy sitting at work reading about this article.  Good luck…its time for the zombie sheep invasion!

So I am writing this while driving so hopefully I won’t kill anyone This morning was a perfect drive….I had no traffic on 84 AT ALL! No traffic on the gps blip! And then…

Boop boop!

Traffic on 684! 31 minutes

what?
What happened to the no traffic day? Welcome to the gridlock!

As I was driving to work this morning, I heard an interesting commercial on the radio.  The first one had to do with gambling prevention.  For those who have gambling problems and turn to the radio for help (???) they may be motivated to listen….

Until the VERY next commercial….

Please play CT lottery for it helps the state pay for funding.  Over 6 billion dollars have been earned for the states revenue and over whatever has been won!  You know you want to play the lottery!!!

Wait….what?  Whoever planned those ad spots are very sick.  This poor person who wants to quit gambling (though I doubt listening to an ad spot of gambling will make people quit…but what do I know) got all jazzed up about it only to be disillusioned by the lotto ad right next to it.  Now the person is thinking about buying a lotto ticket as opposed to quitting gambling.

 Life is cruel!

I am really big into routines.  I get myself into a routine and nothing can stop me.  I continue on the same routine without failure until one day, something changes and then I cannot get back into my routine.  This always disappoints me, but not the reason for the posting. 

In the mornings, I have been going to this gas station to buy a 22 once cup of coffee.  It is great because it only costs a dollar.  So anyways, as I get onto 84 this morning, I notice something that will forever be burned into my memory. 

The coffee falls and spills all over the place!  The worst part about it was I did not take a single sip yet!  An unopened cup of coffee just took a swan dive in my car!  The most tragic part of all is I can’t buy a new cup of coffee until my hour car drive is over.

The positive side to the whole drive is my car smelled of the delicious aroma of coffee the entire trip.  This smell is the only thing that stopped me from ramming into two cars and mowing down a couple of people.  At least this week is going to be a short week!

This week is going to be known as travel week :)  I am helping move tow offices down in Westchester County in NY and I am going to disembark on that journey at 11 AM today.  It is a 1/2 an hour drive there from my home office.  Tomorrow I am going straight there so hopefully I will have time to sneak in a post or two…

The best thing about travel days are the reimburse meals…this trip, I get lunch and dinner paid for.  How awesome is that?  I think it is pretty keen!  I know for certain that lunch is on the company and I won’t even need to float the tab.  It is so much nicer working for a major corporation than a mom-and-pop…