Running the Numbers

Just throwing out some numbers I was looking at a little while ago, something to do with how much US cell phone companies are obviously colluding and riping off customers.

Cost of Cell phone tower = ~ $300,000
Number of simultaneous users per tower = ~ 2000
High for expected user tower usage= 15%
Tower can then hold 16000 subscribers
Tower operating costs $30,000/year
average costs collected from subscribers a tower can hold= $9.6 million or $9,600,000 in revenue
or even if tower only has as many subscribers as max users $1.2 million in revenue
Case of Verizon
Revenue from wireless ~11.1 BILLION
among ~80 MILLION customers
total company operating costs 3.4 billion (out of 94 in revenue)
enough to buy 19,000 new towers a year after subtracting operating costs and overhead
area covered by a tower at minimum expected range  (2 mi ) is enough to cover 3% of the US a year whereas at the expected distances of rural areas, it is enough to cover the entire nation with signal in a year.

These numbers may be rough, and maybe there are some errors, but add in the fact that other countries pay 1/5 what we do for cell service, something sure smells fishy.

Why? ... okay, Why? ... really, Why?

A recent conversation with a friend triggered something in my head. Part of what makes me who I am, is that I am incessantly asking the question "why?"  I'm like that little kid that every time you give them an answer they ask why again.  I think I only give the courtesy of reprieve because I'm processing the answers I get, and at least some acknowledgement of how annoying being asked why over and over again is.  But ultimately, along every line of questions I come to a question that just can't be answered.  At least not yet

Much like one of my favorite videos asking: "What are birds?"


Of course, we just don't know.

In any case, I'll get all my answers eventually, I keep looking, I keep trying, I keep working at it.  I just need to remember why I'm doing it.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year,

I'm not the sentimental type, but last year was good, hopefully this year will work it's way out.  Also, I'm trying to come up with a good way of referencing 2011, I'm thinking elevensies, kind of like what they say in Lord of the Rings.  I know it won't catch on, but sounds fun.

This just had to be posted

http://artofmanliness.com/2010/12/09/5-lessons-rugby-taught-me-about-fatherhood/

Good stuff, good night.

Sports Aptitude Diagnosis, SAD

After playing some basketball with some friends today and being utterly unable to make anything further than 5-10 ft away.  I decided to re-evaluate the athletic abilities in order from best to worst.

1. Ultimate Frisbee
2. Touch Rugby
3. Soccer
4. Football
5. Racquetball
6. Volleyball
7. Aussie Rules Football
8. Basketball
9. Tennis
10. Bowling
11. Golf
12. Cricket
Pretty much after this point, I'm completely relying on basic athletic skill, and have no reasonable experience or familiarity with the sports, or in some instances, lack a necessary skill (ie skating) in order to be able to participate in these sports.

So that's pretty much it, if it's on that list, I'll probably play, if it's not, I probably will still play, but don't expect much of me.

Manliness

It was a good thanksgiving break. I got quite a bit done of things I needed to do, but I also got some good time in with my family.  Mostly, the time I spent with them was good, there wasn't actually a lot of it.  But amongst every, I was reminded somewhere amongst all the taking care of things around the house in Provo, and being ready for the storm, that my Dad really did teach me a lot of manly skills.  I'm really grateful for it, because they've helped me out on numerous occasions. But there is more to being manly than just handy man skills, there is a great website called The Art of Manliness that often has information all types of this stuff.  This recent post reminded me of something else I saw while I was at home.  The poem the Man in the Glass:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world crowns you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and take a look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your Father or Mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.


Some people might think you're a straight-shooting chum
And call you a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear to the end
And you've passed your most dangerous test, if the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool all the world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
but your final reward will be heartache and tears
if you've cheated the man in the glass.

-Unknown

I can still almost recite that poem.  It was first shown to me by my brother who was given it from the track coach. A coach I later had myself.  While that coach may not have been the most stellar example of all gospel principles, he certainly gave a good example in a lot of aspects of life.  A bunch of great talks on charity today, taught me how much good there is to look for and see in other people. I hope to develop more of the attributes of manliness I see in those around me, and I also hope to be an example to those around me.  Although, for now, I feel like I pass the test, I've always done my best, and though if I could I would make different decisions, I've always made the best decisions I could with the understanding and experience I've had at the time.

Ultimately, though, this is the true manliness I aspire to, and the man in the glass I want to see is Jesus Christ:
 Moroni 7:48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

But for now, I'll have to be content with what I have, because as Paul talks about comparing now to that time that we will meet the saviour:
 1 Corinthians 13:12
 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

?

I'm not sure why I'm up, I've been doing better-ish about sleeping normal hours.  I've gotten a lot done, I'm keeping up with my goals, and needs.  At least, my chart tracking them says so, there is a lot of uncertainty in the future, and I'll be flat out busy to some degree for the rest of the year, but I'm okay with that.  I just feel like I'm missing something, and I'm not sure what or why.  Unfortunately, I don't like unanswered questions.