You may know of Working Assets, the leftist financial services company that lets you donate chunks of your credit-card or phone bill to causes like ending the war in Iraq and supporting workers' rights.

They run a cell-phone service, too, and it's got some attraction for politically progressive types. WAW subscribers get to call their congress people and "other decision makers" for free, for up to 30 minutes each month, and WAW puts information about political activities in their bills. (Way to get people to read their bills, guys.) A customized WAP portal lets subscribers hit Daily Kos, the BBC and various political action pages in two clicks. And a chunk of each month's wireless bill goes to selected political causes.

WAW's phones are all basic and inexpensive, appealing to the struggling members of the working class. The LG VI-125, possibly my favorite voice-only phone ever, is free with a two-year contract. For $30 you can get the LG PM-225, which adds a mediocre camera. Monthly rates are competitive with the big guys. By now 400,000 people have signed up, the organization says.

But here's the irony: Working Assets Wireless is an MVNO (a mobile virtual network operator) that uses Sprint as their network. As I've reported previously, Sprint is a non-union company -- and in fact, the Communications Workers of America are encouraging wireless users who support organized labor to switch to Cingular, the only unionized major carrier. While Sprint is the most popular enabler of MVNOs, Cingular is in the MVNO business as well with brands like the kid-oriented Firefly Mobile, super-cheap Net10 and luxury-focused Voce.

After a week's worth of phone calls and e-mails, WAW's Wendy Herlosky said that Sprint was the only major carrier enabling MVNOs back in 2000 when WAW started up. So now that they're locked into a long-term contract with Sprint (see, it doesn't just happen to individual consumers), WAW tries to make amends by giving money to causes like Jobs With Justice and raising the minimum wage.

Switching to Cingular would force WAW to make their customers buy new phones, as Cingular and Sprint phones are incompatible. It might change rates and service plans. But it would also send a strong political message. Is that worth the inconvenience? That's the struggle politically aware people always have to face.

And switching to Cingular would let them offer the phone at left -- can I call it the Pinko RAZR?

Unfortunately, I won't get to take any vacations to Florida, North Carolina, or California this summer (I can't leave our Gearlog Radio listeners! No, seriously, just watching my money right now), but for those of you who are flying into the Dallas, Texas area will be excited about this news.

Airports can get pretty hectic, especially if you don't know your way around. Beginning this week, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport will offer podcasts to inform passengers about parking, dining and touring options. 

From the press e-mail: "Initial podcasts include instructions for entering and exiting the parking garage at DFW Airport's International Terminal D, information about dinning in Terminal D and information about the USO's Rest & Recuperation program. Travelers will able to download DFW Airport's podcasts for free at the iTunes Music Store and at dfwairport.com."

The podcasts will be uploaded to the DFW Airport main web page on Friday, but you can download them now at iTunes.

The airport should also offer a free movie download of The Terminal too, don't you think?

Scion Solutions has brought the exciting world of interest rates, credit history, and fiscal responsibility to members of the virtual world of Whyville.net. Whyville is an online community for kids and young teens, ages 8 to 15, with an aim of educating and engaging kids in a fun, stimulating Web-based environment.

Back in May, Whyville introduced the Toyota-sponsored virtual Scion xB. Since then the car has quickly become a hot commodity for the virtual citizens of Whyville. Unfortunately, though, most Whyvillians don't have enough Whyville currency, called "clams," to afford a Scion. This is why Toyota Financial Services teamed up with the makers of Whyville to create Scion Solutions, for Whyvillians who need financing.

"Whyville Scion Solutions is a perfect example of motivated, engaged learning," explains Dr. Jen Sun, President of Numedeon, Whyville's parent company. Whyvillians go through the real-life loan process guided by a virtual Toyota Financial Services advisor who teaches them about interest rates, down payments, and their WhyCO scores.

WhyCO works like the real FICO: It scores players based on virtual income, ownership of a Whyville house or business, number of log-in days in Whyville, and leadership roles in the community. Whyvillians also face real-life consequences: If they default on a loan, they lose the car and ruin their credit history.

To date, Whyvillians have purchased more than 1,200 Scions and gone on 140,000 rides in their cars. With the introduction of Scion Solutions, many more Whyvillians will be able to join in on the fun while learning valuable real-life lessons about financing and fiscal responsibility.

To read "Auto Oddities: Drive Your Message Across," click here.

What do you get when you combine a motorized retrieval spool, a camera controlling footpad, and an LCD monitor? Nature Vision's new MAV (Motorized Aqua-Vu)! It's the first hands-free motorized underwater viewing system.

If you're a frequent fisherperson, then you know how hard it can be to sit there waiting for the fish to bite. With MAV, the wait is over. The motor lowers and raises a camera that captures what's underwater and onto the 10.4-inch flat-screen LCD monitor so that you can track fish patterns. 

The system also displays camera depth and water temperature (in case you want to take a dip). The LCD monitor can be seen from anywhere in the boat. Other features include Auto-Off (when the camera is fully retracted), multi-colored Spectral Response lighting (for low-light viewing), and an external video-output jack for watching the underwater world on two monitors, or for video recording.
   

How It Works. The MAV is powered by the boat's 12-volt system, which can be mounted anywhere. According to the press release, "Bass anglers typically prefer the monitor and footpad mounted in the bow, which allows them to cover twice the water in half the time; walleye anglers may chose to place the unit in the transom, to view while backtrolling or jigging."
   

MAV will retail for under $2000. Locate the nearest dealer here.

In our continuing efforts to bring you the latest and greatest technology to endorken your restroom (and how exactly do I keep getting away with using "endorken" as a word?), I present you with this: the faucet light. From the upstanding citizens at ThinkGeek--the people who brought you those remote control Daleks you've been pining away for--comes this easy to screw on tranquil blue faucet light.

Harnessing the near-limitless power of ordinary watch batteries, the attachment turns on automatically whenever water flows through it, turning ordinary water into Glowing Blue Lit Water (tm)! Wow! Couple that with some sort of nightlight, and you'll be able to unscrew those ordinary bathroom lights entirely. The only thing that strikes me as strange about the whole thing is where ThinkGeek filed the product: home office. I know some people do their best thinking in there, but still...

Sometimes when it's a hectic day at the office, there's no time to run out and enjoy your lunch. On those days, I'll be sitting at my desk scarfing down a ham and cheese sandwich or leftovers from the night before. I don't know how many times I'll try to save a crumb from entering those tiny cracks in my keyboard. And even when I do, one gets in there anyway.

I think that's why Korean designer Duck Young Kong dreamed up the Keyboard Food Tray. Just place it on top of your keyboard and you can chomp away without worrying about collecting crumbs.

But, my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is rather large and takes up most of the space on my keyboard tray. So, this concept would have to be designed to accommodate all keyboard sizes. I don't think I'd like the built-in cup holder and sandwich holder though, because you're only limited to those types of things on the tray.

Still, I bet lots of people would buy this if it's ever manufactured (as long as they're not accident prone).

[Yanko Design via OhGizmo!]