2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

My son returned from Iraq recently.  While over there, he was charged nearly $80 for internet access.  Free access was available: there were 10 computers for hundreds of NG to "share".  If you wanted actual access -- he used it to skype his wife and, after Xmas Eve, see pictures of his new baby daughter -- you had to pay rates that can only be called extortionate.  I know Sen Merkley tried to get this changed but was unsuccessful.  The govt contractor getting billions to provide services to our troops found another way to line their pockets: ripping off our soldiers for the privilege of staying in touch with their families back home.

posted 3 years ago
view in context