Mark

I'm just starting out in ham radio and I want to know suggestions for a good starter radio. I'm getting my license this weekend. I've done a lot of reading, some say a handheld is best, others a mobile unit. I like the idea that a mobile unit can be turned into a base rig if connected to a power source. I also plan on getting a General license. So i guess I'm looking for wide band, good price (not too expensive), good radio. Please respond with any advice, and I would really appreciate specifics (like make and model number) not just, "get a 2 meter band." Thank you.

My verizon plan is going to be renewed and i will need to decide on a new phone. I wanted something with qwerty for texting and have it down to Lg enV3, Lg enV Touch, Samsung Rogue, Samsung Intensity, etc. Though i don't really like touch screens. I don't want or need a smartphone either. Or should I wait, does anyone know if new models are supposed to be coming out?

My contract for verizon is going to be renewed in the coming months and I wanted to know what is a good cell phone to get? I currently have the Chocolate 2 and i'm looking for something with qwerty texting. I don't really need or want a smartphone (no blackberry or droid), and Ive been looking at env3, rogue, and alias 2, but should i wait? Is something better going to be coming out in the next six months?

I recently bought an Olympus FE 4000, does anyone have any opinions? With all the brands (Nikon, Casio, Sony, Canon, Kodak, Fujifilm, etc.) is it really just a matter of chance on which ones are good? Accounting for same zooms and megapixels etc. aren't the cameras across the makers just the same?

I know that holding another job in addition to being an AmeriCorps VISTA is grounds for termination, but how would anyone really know? I'm finding with my private student loans (not the loans I can put in forbearance because of AmeriCorps) I will need to get another job. Will the government really check me out and my taxes to see if I hold another job? How would anyone know? Does anyone know my chances of being caught?

Alright, I know there is a huge debate over this and these are what I saw to be the main differences: the ps3 slim is the better console (you get free online play, and built in blu-ray) but the xbox has better games (and is backwards compatible). I'm torn, I want to buy one, but I don't know what to do. I do have a bias towards the ps3 controller, I never warmed to the xbox 360 controller, but I'd like to hear opinions from people who have both?

I just leased the Mazda 3 2010 i-Touring for 240 a month with no money down (just paying for plates) 10000 miles a year for 36 months. This is my first car and I wanted to know, for piece of mind, if I negotiated a good deal or not. The MSRP was 19070 and I think the residual was around 11000 and cap cost around 18000. Any information from someone experienced would be appreciated, thank you.