Quote the Day

"Just because Bush sucked doesn't make Obama wonderful."

Am I Getting an iPhone 5?

Many, many (many) people have asked me since the iPhone 5 was unveiled on Tuesday if I'm planning on getting one.

No, I'm not.

It's not that the phone isn't beautifully stunning (although, honestly, I can't bring myself to get excited about a larger device to keep in my pocket.  I found the original and subsequent iPhone's dimensions to be pretty well suited to fit perfectly in my jeans pockets.)

And it's not that the new display doesn't look incredible.  It does.

Frankly, it's just that I find myself in the same position I found myself in 2008 when the iPhone 3G (and again when the 3GS) was introduced: I'm still ridiculously happy with the iPhone I have.

I have an iPhone 4 that I pre-oprdered and got on the very first day they were available back in 2010. Do I wish it had Siri?  Sure.  But that's about the only thing I seem to be missing. It still does everything I need it to do very, very well and I'm still satisfied with the speed with which it does it.

But I'm a gadget guy.  Yeah, I know. But I'm not your typical rabid Apple fan who will buy any Apple product, no matter how stupid it is.  I have a conscience.  And a budget. And a family to support.  And I have other hobbies that are expensive, too.

So I'll just sit this one out and wait for a year or so until the iPhone 5S. But if you happen to get an iPhone 5, drop by and let me lick it.... er.... hold it for a minute.

Teachers Strike in Chicago

So let me get this straight...

The average teacher salary in Chicago is around $75,000 annually, while the average citizen in Chicago earns around $45,000. And they're out in the streets protesting because they're only going to be getting a four percent raise every year?

The school district is running a budget shortfall of $3 billion over the next three years. And they're upset that there might be cutbacks?

Teachers unions are up in arms because teachers are being asked to be evaluated on merit and performance (just like those of us in the private sector.)  Aren't the students they teach evaluated on merit and performance in the form of grades?

I just don't get it.