I’m one of those apple fans that owns quite a bit of their products. Here’s my run-down of products:

• brand new iPod shuffle (red) product from the new ipod line
• 17″ powerbook (2004 model)
• 14″ ibook (2004 model)
• 17″ iMac (2006 model)
• Apple TV (it’s about 2 weeks old)
• airport base station (wireless device – 2004 model)

Have owned several ipods in the past including the 4th gen 20gb clickwheel (2004), the 5th gen video ipod and a 1st gen ipod shuffle (the white stick one). I also use iWork ’08 and iLife ’08.

So, maybe that seems like a lot of stuff to some and that possibly puts me in the “apple fan-boy” category because I have so much – but I find that the products work great for my family of 4 which I may add includes my wife who recently graduated from KU School of Social Welfare using that iBook as well as my 2 little girls – my oldest who is 4 already plays around on my iMac with me and will be entering kindergarten next fall.

Basically, I gave you all that background to illustrate that I love the products that I own and I have a bunch of them because there is something very nice about being able to integrate all of your digital products seamlessly. I can take a digital photo of my girls, upload it to my computer, use that computer software to manipulate it and then beam it wirelessly across the house to my Apple TV to watch it on the big screen instead of being huddled around the computer.

So, when it came time for an iPhone purchase that was a no-brainer. I have countless songs/movies already in iTunes. I use the heck out of the native OS X apps (Mail, Address Book, iCal, etc.) every single day. So it would make a ton of sense to have a device for mobile use that would integrate into my already apple driven lifestyle – not because I have to have it but because, well, I kinda need it to work like that. I’ve had a Treo before and don’t get me wrong – it does have all the stuff that the iPhone doesn’t have; removable battery, expandable storage, smaller price tag, arguably a better network, etc. but what that wonderful device didn’t have was a seamless way to integrate in to the products and media that I already have/own. May not sound like a big deal – but it sucks. It’s doable but it sucks. I’d much rather spend that time with my girls and staying up late on the palm web site help section.

Basically, here’s the deal – can’t believe I’ve gone on this long – I am with Sprint, my wife is with sprint, my sister, mom, brother in-law, parents-in-law are with Sprint – everyone I know is with sprint – say what you will about them, at least we are all on the same dang network. I’m not about to get into coverage and who’s better, frankly I don’t care much about that (not the point of this e-mail). But if I were to break my contract (for a whopping $200 bucks) and go to AT&T. I’d still have to wait for my wife to break her contract also (another $200) just so the 2 of us could talk mobile-to-mobile on AT&T. That wouldn’t help us at all for talking to other people in our network.

From what I’ve read on the blog sphere lately, people have been saying that Apple must have been worried about hitting their mark and that’s why they dropped the price – I’m not so sure about that. If they wanted to hit that 10 million number out of the park they would have provided an unlocked phone. I’m actually surprised thy even hit the 1 million mark on just one provider. I’m just bitter apparently and I’ve gone on too long. Just wanted to add my story I guess to those you’ve already accumulated for your article.

Long story short, I want the iPhone (might go so far as to say I NEED) the iPhone but I will probably not buy the iPhone as long as it is only on one carrier. All I can hope for now I suppose is that AT&T gets unhappy with Apple for building a device that is apparently “hackable” and will sue them for allowing T-Mobile (which I mean come on) you know apple knew other sim cards would work on that phone.

For now – I shall continue to use my 3 year old Samsung VGA1000 (A620) phone that I got when I first signed up with sprint. Am I available for upgrrades – sure as long as I renew my contract (ARRGGHHH!!!!). And the second I do that – some deal will be reached with apple and other cell phone providers and I’ll be even more irate. Man – who needs all this drama – thanks for listening.

Stay tuned for an update – I’ll most likely have a new phone by the end of September.

Clearly a public official under enormous pressure to deliver to his constituents demands, I saw an elected official finally do what you “NEVER” see them do. Demand, demand, demand! If you want a concrete view of what is really happening in New Orleans, you have got to listen to the audio-cast on CNN.com or read the transcript of the interview that the Mayor gave to WWL Radio. It’s incredible. And it’s the kinda thing we should be hearing from FEMA Under Secretary Michael Brown.

The desperation in the Mayor’s voice has put this relief effort in a new light for me. Before the interview I assumed, like most, that the wheels were in motion and that help was on the way and that this nightmare for our fellow countrymen would soon be over. Apparently I assumed wrong. FEMA “is” doing something, but they are by no means, doing it fast enough or in large enough scale. I am not impressed.

This morning as I got ready for work I heard CNN’s Soledad O’Brien fiercely question Michael Brown about the response effort. She was in disbelief that the intelligence of CNN was greater than that of FEMA. “How is it possible we’re getting better Intel than you are getting.” She went onto address the relief effort provided to the tsunami victims in Bande Ache, Sumatra, Indonesia in late 2004. ” “Why no massive airdrop of food and water?” Tsunami victims were being provided with food and water as soon as 2 days after that catastrophe. It was astounding to hear the FEMA director squirm and simply say, “We’re getting ready to do that now.” That interview is also available on CNN.

In June 1997, as a Marine aboard the USS Kearsarge and an integral part of Operation Noble Obelisk, I saw first hand what a massive military response effort can look like. The Marines that hit the beach that morning came with a massive “show of force” akin to the U.S. Marines. We came ashore with 4 LCAC’s (hovercrafts), 20 CH-46 Sea Night and 10-15 CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters/gunships, numerous Cobra attack helicopters, Tanks, AAV’s, LAV’s (I was a gunner on this vehicle), and several Humvees carrying medical personnel. And all this was from only ONE ship. In less than 5 hours, we evacuated over 2500 Americans and third-world nationals from Freetown, Sierra Leone and housed them in our own “coffin racks” in our birthing areas on the ship. We then transported the refugees to Conakry, Guinea over a period of 4 days, the entire time providing them with electricity, hot food and other “basics” required by those in need.

That is what should be happening in New Orleans.

Please help in any way that you can. I will. Visit the American Red Cross for more information.

The initial list of 100 featured such names as; Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Brett Favre, President Clinton, Elvis Presley and Homer Simpson to name a few. Last Sunday the list was narrowed down to 25 and this Sunday the list was narrowed down to the following five in alphabetical order:

• Benjamin Franklin
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Abraham Lincoln
• Ronald Reagan
• George Washington

The only way to select a winner among these amazing men is to ask the question; Does the man make history, or does history make the man? In my opinion the other four men’s greatness has been defined over time as we reflect back on their achievements. However, in Washington’s case he helped define the nation’s history – for starters by declining being appointed the head of an American monarchy. My favorite Washington quote which speaks to the uncharted waters that he forged as a founding father is as follows:

“I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.”

He was a definitive “leader.” He defined the role by which so many others live by. His unselfishness helped shape the democracy and freedoms which each subsequent “Great American” helped define as well. Simply put, without Washington, we could possibly have a much shorter list. Don’t miss the live finale on Sunday June 26th @ 9PM E/P on the Discovery Channel.

Now, as far as Greatest American Hero’s go, there’s only one. William Katt!