LG Rumor (LX260) Reviewed - is this device worth holding on to?

I will be renewing my Sprint contract in October.  I plan on taking advantage of the phone upgrade credit but find myself thinking that I may hold off until sometime after tax season.  The reason is that I have a fully functional phone that does most of the tasks I need performed.

Out of the box, I have to announce that the device is crippled.  It takes a bit of time and trouble to get your MSL code (root access ID) to enable the ability to install 3rd party Java midlet applications.  If you need to have file-system access, you will need a data cable and BitPIM to access the Java policy file.

After the above is accomplished, the phone performs amazingly proficient with most anything you may push to the LG Rumor core to do.  I use Opera Mini 5 successfully with dozens of open web page tabs.  I have Skype installed for instant messaging.  Mobile GMAPS is a wonderful tool for GPS navigation with routing and multiple street and land views.  I take great advantage of an application called MTvIRC for IRC communications.  All these applications are available free once the initial pain of rooting your phone wears off.

My cons at this time:

1. The location API is GPSONE and is A-GPS.  Note that you are able to use Qualcomm's location services.
2. Yes, you can put your running Java midlets in the background for multitasking.  The bad news is that I do not know how.  While randomly swiping the QWERTY keypad in and out a couple times, it will perform this operation.  Both Sprint and LG claim that this is not possible.  Shame on you both.
3. I use a Windows Mobile smart-phone for several purposes.  I would like a one do-it-all device.
4. It feels as though all the new and cool applications being developed are for the Android.

My solution to the above cons is enough incentive to buy a full fledged smartphone when my contract is up and after I receive my tax returns.

I would absolutely - surely tell anyone interested in the LG Rumor (LX260) or Rumor 2 to not waste your time and money.  The cons are greater than my list and span multiple phone specific utilities.  However, if you find one on e-bay for 10 dollars and 20 shipping, it may be worth the purchase price for a young text messaging friend of yours.  Believe me, it will not make them popular however.

Greyson Michael - An Adult Fan

I made a visit to YouTube a short moment ago and was overwhelmed with the front page videos of a very talented singer, songwriter, and pianist - Greyson Michael

Yes, I am an adult, and this musician is young enough to make me feel a bit odd to say this: I will buy his record in a heart beat.

Ellen Degeneres has offered him a recording option for record production and sales. By the looks of his expression after Ellen's announcement, I am sure this opportunity will not be passed up.

Don't quite believe this young man will show up in adult CD collections as legitimate, unique, and personal music tracks resulting in dedicated adult fans? Check [here] for just one of many solos he has performed. Afterwards try searching for some of his self written songs.

Central Station creative flashmob Video

Flashmob's are becoming intensively creative lately.  This one may not be the most outlandish demonstration of this, but it has substance and gives me a good feeling, so I will share the YouTube video.

Centraal Station Antwerpen gaat uit zijn dak!

RSS viewers click on post link for video..

Antwerpen Centraal gaat uit zijn dak want Op zoek naar Maria komt er aan! Bekijk hier hoe meer dan 200 dansers en danseressen het station op zijn kop zetten op het klanken van de Sound of Music!

attempted english translation:

Antwerp Central goes out of his roof because Looking for Mary is coming! Watch more than 200 dancers will be shaking up the station on the sounds of the Sound of Music!

Here is another Flashmob in Central Station.  I love these vocals!  Hats off to you all!

RSS viewers click on post link for video..

The first choir flash mob: singing, trial bike & beat box.  All together, to promote a good cause, a bicycle event for 11.11.11, a non-profit who fights for a fairer world without poverty.

Added 2010-05-23: Who ya gonna call?  Ghostbusters to the New York Library!

Random Thought : got my 10mbit back today, almost 900kbits up.. has it been this long?!

Hamper, Cheese & Grumpy Troll

The amount of computers, accessories, and gadgets had become almost ridiculous.  I made the decision to do Spring cleaning and remove the distractive wires that hang in every direction of my home.

Fair well FreeBSD box, you were a good friend and served me well.  Hamper has taken your place, and you an old P3 1GHz will surely be missed as you had done your job proficiently, reliably, and fast.

Everything is shut off at night! My scripts are now smart, and I spent a day making modifications to my NAS, RAQ, Hamper, Desktop and Netbook to not rely as heavily on a mesh of services and connections.

It is time to conserve electricity.  In relation to that, I now have no distractions when I should be sleeping instead of hacking.  In the morning it is now a step process to bring my network back up:  I power on Hamper.  Next to hamper I power on the NAS, sometimes the second, of course not requiring myself to make to much effort in the process.  Then finally the RAQ is powered on (this really could be left on).  Of course my Desktop and Netbook are to follow.

When I leave for any length I will leave them on and available, crunching numbers in the background.  While I am sleeping silently I will put in greater effort to conserve our world resources.

To finish up this post I will share a picture of some Grumpy Troll Brewery hardware I found in my phone.

Random Thought : I may be headed to bike trails this weekend. It should be wet and muddy. What a blast!

Homosexuality Bill Kills in Uganda

A massive attempt of persuasion by large evangelical Christian groups in Uganda are moving the country to the current majority opinion that homosexuality is a crime and should be punishable by death, as reported by ABC News (World News).

For a better understanding of these extremist agendas and its tactics, I recommend two documentaries:

Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi:

Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi takes a remarkable journey across the heartland to uncover the religious, cultural and political beliefs of evangelical Christians, including Jerry Falwell, Ted Haggard and best-selling author Joel Osteen. Interviewing both leaders and rank-and-file believers and attending events such as a Christian wrestling match, Pelosi reveals a vibrant subculture whose convictions may surprise and possibly bewilder you. [NetFlix]

Although the editorial is somewhat biased to evangelical Christian beliefs, they do not attempt to contradict their beliefs, so therefore I believe this film may be a good starting point to understanding group war tactics and their intents. [IMDB]

Jesus Camp:

The movie is filmed during a right-wing bible camp with scenes from a few Mike Papantonio talk shows pursuing the needed discussion of where this type of religious abuse to these children, and the belief of all those involved, will lead all of us as Americans to be divided by the "I am right no matter what - Jesus is the lord. period." type of mentality now and in the future. [Source Post]

Jesus Camp follows several young children as they prepare to attend a summer camp where the kids will get their daily dose of evangelical Christianity. Becky Fischer works at the camp, which is named Kids on Fire. Through interviews with Fischer, the children, and others, Jesus Camp illustrates the unswerving belief of the faithful. A housewife and homeschooling mother tells her son that creationism has all the answers. Footage from inside the camp shows young children weeping and wailing as they promise to stop their sinning. Child after child is driven to tears. Juxtapose these scenes with clips from a more moderate Christian radio host (who is appalled by such tactics), and Jesus Camp seems to pose a clear question: are these children being brainwashed?  Written by Ken Miller {wkmiller704@yahoo.com}  [IMDB]