consumers union

I just took action to urge the Federal Communications Commission to investigate how cell phone companies lock handsets to stop cell phone users from keeping their phones if they switch to a new company.  We should be able to take our phones with us when we switch carriers, but most companies use software locks that artificially prevent customers from taking a phone to another company operating a technically compatible network.  

It's simply a way cell phone companies prevent customers from taking their business elsewhere.  Forcing consumers to purchase a new phone whenever they switch companies is unfair, costly and bad for our environment.  Reusing more cell phones instead of throwing them in the trash reduces toxic waste piling up in our landfills.

Groups such as Media Alliance and Consumers Union believe it’s important for people to have their voices heard on this issue.  To send an email just like I did, please go to http://cu.convio.net/reuse 

In the United States alone, over 100 million cell phones are trashed or collect dust each year.  Most of these phones end up in landfills, leaking toxic metals and chemicals into the ground. 

We think forcing consumers to purchase a new phone whenever they switch companies is unfair, wasteful and bad for our environment. 

Take action to reduce cell phone toxic waste. http://cu.convio.net/reuse

from grumpy bree:

Friday morning, 4:30 am, a man who lived on my block and five of his children were driving to Montreal for Shabbos. One of the sons was driving and slipped on black ice, causing the car to veer off the highway and smash into a tree. I don't know exactly what happened and who was sitting where but this is the end result:

Zachariah, 26, was the driver. His shoulder is broken and he's wearing a cast all the say down his arm. Sara, 19, the daughter, was hemhorraging in her brain and abdomen. They operated and she was in critical condition (coma) for awhile. She woke up yesterday, and as far as can be told there is no permanent brain damage. Moshe and Dovid - I'm not what happened to who - one boy broke both his legs with one of them ripped off. They sewed it back on and had to put metal plates in. The other boy needs to be operated on but he is so swollen, the doctors aren't sure what to do. They have no idea what's wrong with him. One of these two boys is supposed to have a bar mitzvah this year. Yisroel was the only one who walked away with the least amount of injuries.

The father died on the way to the hospital.

They were on their way to a rav in Montreal for Shabbos. They've done this drive many times before.
I've only been to three funerals in my life but this was by far the hardest. It was an accident; a man was taken seemingly before his time. Obviously, there is a plan and we cannot see the big picture of life and therefore, right now there is not a lot to comfort the family with.

It just hits close to home, you know?

As Devora informed me today, this family has 14 children (12 ranging in age from 3-19) and the mother is currenly unemployed and now has a LOT of bills.  If you would like to donate money to help them out, please send checks (for now, made out to cash, or if you're more comfortable writing in a name, you can make them out to me and I'll transfer the money to her) to:

11 Broadway
12th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Devora Bree

it took all morning

but i have my passport

ACLU

it's just too funny

V-limadtem

Schoolgirl saved hundreds with tsunami knowledge

A 10-year-old British schoolgirl saved the lives of hundreds of people in southern Asia by warning them a wall of water was about to strike, after learning about tsunamis in geography class, British media reported on Saturday.

feels like monday

i have found an intermediate level of stress where my heart rate is only occassionally elevated (so i just feel like i'm randomly excited and don't know why), i can't sleep cause no matter how tired i am, i may start talking about all the work i have to finish before i go to israel which will keep me wide awake for hours, and i have no time to do parts of my work because the site has to get finished before i leave next week.  i find myself half asleep on the subway with floyd blasting out my ears in a semi dream state running thrugh the work that still needs to be done.

there's just so much to do and no one's letting me write up my list and calendars taht keep me sohapy.  i have nothing outlined for the next week, just general vogue notions of thatngs that must take place and a sort of deadline.

this is the jumble in my head: pesach, emails, yahoo account (can't sign in for the 2nd time in two weeks, anoyance), passport, packing, Shabbat, weight loss, exercise, re-schedule doctor's appointment, contact every one in israel, get cellphone for israel, contact Raffi, plan itinerary for israel, help avs write up stuff for Rabbi jobs next year, figure out if i plan on staying at the OU or not, class schedule next semester.

i know, none of this is really important in the long run.  I have my family, everyone is healthy and accounted for.  which only goes to show how completely i've lost my mind/hold on reality that i'm getting frazzled from this kind of stuff.

dum dum dum dum

well it's a brand new year on a calendar system that some say has no application in my life.

life and work are reasonably the same - a raise and a promotion add some sinshine, but the work-load is the same as always (heavy).

we leave to israel in 10 days for 10 days... thrilling!!!!!!!!!

avraham's studying all day. bechina on bishul and such. i offered to take it for him cause i know all the stuff, but he reminded me that i never remember the Rabbis names (i.e. who said what).

fun lunch with avs and skydell, yummy food at golan (yay yummy food!).

one more week to finish up the content for the Pesach section and train BF. i'm figuring that monday and tuesday next week will be devored to rush emergency stuff and not regular work. it's a little stressful to think about, truthfully. i'll still have a week or so to finalize when i get back, but i think i may be working from israel a bit. something to do when i can't sleep. : )