ColinAke.com…until I write a book.

What industry would be cooler to be in than the space industry?

I saw this CNN article on a new Google Lunar X Prize.  $20mil to the first privately funded group to put a rover on the moon, travel 500 meters, and send back pictures, data, and video.

How cool is that?

If I had the choice of any job in the world - it’d be lending my skills towards a team doing something nobody had done before.  Private space exploration would be the most exhilirating project ever.

This is officially my application - if anyone out there needs someone who knows IT, knows marketing, and loves a challenge, call me.  If I could do anything, being a part of a team doing this would be amazing.

I think the coolest thing would be going to work every day and realizing how incredibly small and insignificant I am.  I’d work for free on something like this.

There are no good wireless companies, no, not one.

I needed more than the minimum 450 minutes this past spring while running around crazily planning two trips for 20+ people, one being overseas, the other to Carnegie Hall. That said, I kept my rate plan at the 900 minute level to build some rollover up before switching back down to 450 minutes.

Then I went to switch back to 450 minutes, and they shot me back to the stone age. Apparently when you switch down in minutes you can only take as many rollover minutes as you have anytime minutes. So I got taken from 1500 to 450. Wasted my money, you stinky dumb decision makers. At least make it twice the anytime minutes, so I’d have kept 450.

Now, there are some who say Verizon is so much better, but I don’t think they really are. There are just as many pissed off Verizon customers as there are AT&T customers. And, why would I switch if my family and girlfriend are on AT&T? Well, and the iPhone, of course.

And I want an iPhone. I’ll stick with AT&T.

But why must all wireless companies shaft their users so?

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich had a very interesting interview with the New York Post. It’s definitely worth a read, as this guy could throw his hat in late for the Republican Presidential Nomination.

Some highlights:

• Says it’s no accident that Rudy Giuliani is polling very well due to his past leadership
• “Somebody who fits the mold of a normal, regular Republican will have zero possibility of winning the general election.”
• “The President is supposed to be the Commander in Chief. He’s not”

I think this guy deserves a serious look. Newt has been touring and interviewing lately promoting what I believe is the most conservative (and accurate) view on current events, when compared to any other presidential candidate. Now, maybe Newt just knows how to use the Media to promote his agenda best, but he seems dead on when it comes to the war, healthcare, immigration, and I believe he may be open to the FairTax (but don’t quote me on that, I could be mistaken). Check out his views at www.newt.org - read some articles and be informed. After that, think he should run? DraftNewt.org is demanding a 21st century Contract with America. One thing I especially like is his view on space exploration - he would prefer to see most space exploration done with prizes and tax incentives outside NASA.
It will be interesting to watch this unfold over the next six months. I personally think Newt will declare sometime in August/September and play the role of the reluctant candidate who is for the people. Now, will that resonate? We’ll find out.

What do you think?

ca