Juvin Chronicles

A heads up for iPhone users

Julie| August 10, 2009 11:33 am

I just got an ad from CREDO Mobile, a different kind of wireless company by the same folks that brought you Working Assets back in the 80’s. According to their website, “[t]o date, the company and its members have donated more than $60 million to amazing groups — groups that members themselves help select — like the ACLU, Doctors Without Borders, Global Fund for Women, Greenpeace and Planned Parenthood.”

But that’s not what was interesting. CREDO’s competitors include AT&T, which currently holds a monopoly on providing wireless service for the iPhone – hence the title of my post. The ad I received contained some eye-opening facts about AT&T along with Verizon Wireless. I’ve reproduced the comparisons word for word below:

does your phone company help…	AT&T	Verizon Wireless	CREDO Mobile
to end the war?	NO. Made maximum campaign contributions to the pro-war Bush and McCain campaigns.	NO. Contributed to the Texas Freedom Fund, a PAC that supports vocal pro-war politicians like Michele Bachmann.	YES. We opposed the war before it began. Since then, we’ve mobilized our customers to send letters, faxes and e-mails, urging Congress to withdraw our troops. And we’ve donated to anti-war groups.
to stop global warming?	NO. Contributed to Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), who called the threat of global warming the “greatest hoax ever perpetuated on the American people.”	NO. Contributed to Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), House Republican Leader, who recently described the scientific consensus on CO₂, as “comical.”	YES. CREDO has donated more than $10 million to environmental groups committed to solving our climate crisis, including Greenpeace, Sierra Club and Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection.
to protect a woman’s right to choose?	NO. Contributed to Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), author of the Right to Life Act.	NO. Contributed to Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), who earned 0% on Planned Parenthood’s pro-choice scorecard.	YES. CREDO is the largest corporate donor to Planned Parenthood.
to reform political campaign financing and influence?	NO. Donated $31 million to federal candidates in 2008.	NO. Gave $138k to federal candidates in the 2008 election cycle.	YES. CREDO members have taken action against corporate campaign contributions and supported nonprofit groups working to clean up campaign finance and lobbying influence.
to protect your freedom of speech?	NO. Censored Pearl Jam’s criticism of Bush during a concert Webcast.	NO. Blocked text messages from NARAL Pro-Choice America.	YES. CREDO donates to First Amendment heroes like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Democracy Now!

Disclaimer: I use T-Mobile for my wireless service.

Categories: environment, news, politics
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Random

Julie| March 24, 2009 9:31 pm

Work has been extraordinarily busy. I’m also still extremely sleep deprived. But I haven’t lost my sense of humor. In fact, here’s a couple of things that have tickled my funny bone recently:

A New York Times article about Korean tacos in Los Angeles? I love L.A.

As heard on public radio: “For full coverage of the financial fallout, visit Marketplace dot org.” OMG *snort* LOL!!!!!

Categories: food, news
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High Fructose Corn Syrup

Julie| February 11, 2009 10:54 pm

Today, while catching up on the news, I read that mercury has been found in high fructose corn syrup. How horrible! Fortunately we started trying to cut high fructose corn syrup out of our family’s diet about 2 years ago. Among the changes we made, here are the most significant:

We stopped buying all sandwich bread containing corn syrup. This was harder than one might assume. Back then the only affordable brand we could find was Kirkland at Costco. Now Fresh ‘n Easy’s sandwich bread also fits the bill.
We stopped buying juice drinks with corn syrup and started buying 100 percent juice. At first the kids kind of missed the juice drinks because they were sweeter. Now, not only have they gotten used to 100 percent juice, they can also drink diluted juice or plain water.
We stopped buying pancake syrup made with corn syrup and started buying pure maple syrup. At first this was the most expensive of all our decisions, but now the kids actually use less syrup than they used to.

Kevin is the only person who drinks sugary soft drinks in this family, which is why this one didn’t make it on to the list of significant changes, but I’m really happy that he started making a conscious effort to switch to drinks made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, such as Jones.

Categories: food, news
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Fire

Julie| November 17, 2008 1:21 pm

Kevin told me about the great service the LA Times has been providing in blogging about the fires and updating this Google Map with evacuation information. According to the map Angie’s babysitter’s house is only one street away from the mandatory evacuation area. When we called her last night to see if she was okay, she and her neighbors were all packing their cars.

Today I’m staying home with the kids. Alex’s entire school district is closed due to the fires; one of the high schools is being used as an evacuation center. We didn’t get a call from Ana’s preschool, but I preemptively left a message saying I’m keeping her home. Aside from the babysitter situation, Angie is recovering from a cold, and I’m going through tissue after tissue mopping up her runny nose.

Meanwhile, I’ve rescheduled my meetings for the day, and our Internet access seems to have been restored, so I’m checking my work email from home.