AntoineRJWright.com

This has been a day where quite a few thoughts have run thru:

When will my new Bluetooth keyboard will come in?
Will my hands begin to hurt at the end of a day of typing all day as they do now?
Will I break down and get cable and NBA TV so that I can watch games at home?
Will I get a new phone?
Will that new phone be a Treo or something totally different?
Will MMM grow?
Will I grow in my work at Brighthand?
What will I cut out of my life so that growth can happen?
Should I skip work on Monday for the Mobile 2.0 Conference?
Could my body even take swinging that trip? Financially?

Tons of questions, and still I stay awake when I can be sleep? When will I ever just go to bed :)Read More

I had a veil over my eyes…and had created my own prince,
I used the Bible to make his existence in my life… make sense.

I heard the music of his speech and just swayed to it
I smelt the richness of his scent that I just slept in it

No questions asked, cos "It felt right"

God kept tugging at my heart and calling on my spirit,
But I had unequally yolked my self... and I was in it.

I heard sermon upon sermon bout this trap
but I “knew� I was in love that God would have my back,

But the only one who encouraged me was my adversary,
till God finally got thru and convicted me.

Strength from nowhere,
Sorry,
Strength from up there

God granted me,
His said His grace was sufficient for me..

I cried tears and didn’t want to go,
but had to, for this my precious soul.

I’m still in love, so I still hurt but God is healing me
I was unequally yoked, no one to blame but me.

I see him now and what HE does and finally realize
I didn’t see much Cos I had a veil over my eyes.

He is not a bad boy, or a
'wannabe� I guess,
The world would classify him as a good man, yes.

But let me say this, we are all messed up,
But a saved man is what I need, to lift this virtuous woman up

Originally posted at Trailblazin Ministries.Read More

The last thing that I need to be doing at 120am is posting here: but I thought that I better log this so I can come back to it later.

Probably the best mobile browser yet developed for mobile devices has been reviewed at OS News. Nokia's Web Browser is just a sick piece of work. I even like that OS News has a browser detect so that no matter what browser you use, you get a great working site (albeit kinda full in some browsers). Very cool and kudos to them.

Part 3 of Palm Dubai's review of the Treo 680 was just published. Tis a nice device it seems, but for one reason or another, I am starting to wane on it some. Probably because I cannot get that Nokia browser on it, nor 3G speeds. Oh well, it still has a heck of a design and great user interface.

I got an email from Kyle at GospelShare that he was releasing a new site called Christian Mobile Tech. I still don't know how to feel about it. On one hand I want to support him as he has done a great deal for mobile users around the world who want to read the bible/biblical resources on their PDAs and smartphones (GospelShare). But then again, this site seems all too similar to MMM. Guess it a kick in the butt more than anything to get moving. Lord willing, I shall.

Been working on MMM's new design some tonite. I figured out that some parts of it are going to be harder to setup than they need to be. I need to make a call about that as soon as possible. I don't want the maintenance issues later, but don't want the hassle now either. I want it done, just done.

Heck, I just want this whole mobile thing on my end to be sorted out so that life can just move on for me to whatever is next (family building perhaps). I wonder how Peter and the other Apostles dealt with this stuff?Read More

Still seeing issues with posting, I wanna blame someone for this, but its just probably tech being tech...

SOmething weird always happen when I spend the entire day in my apt and do nearly nothing; I tend to go to mobile tech websites and start reading. Then i starting thinking. Then I start planning and wondering. When God gave me Mobile Ministry Magazine as something to occupy time until a job came along, I never thought that it would be something that would stick around. I mean, with writing for Brighthand, I had plenty on my plate. But as I have working more and more with MMM, I am finding that I really like the mobile arena, and want to do more than what I am doing now with it.

The only issue stems from the fact that I don't know exactly what to do.

It would be a simple thing to say "Antoine, you are going to go completly mobile if/when you get this and that and this." And for me that wouldn't be a bad thing. I enjoy being on a mobile device and online much more than I prefer sitting in front of a computer. I enjoy how some mobile games and applications are lessons in immersion, and not just information reading and retrevial. Heck, just the fact that I read a whole lot easier on a mobile screen (fewer words slows my reading pace down consderably) is great to me. And then there is that aspect of not being locked to a place; you really can go mobile anywhere.

Even when I talk to my mom about what she will do with computing, it evolves into a conversation about being mobile. A laptop that is efficient and meets the needs of basic information creation and web surfing. There is most definiteyl something to be said when we strip all the bigger and better out of the computing experience and just get down to what it is what we really want. We want access to information and the ability to communicate it easily. At least I do, and know a slew of others that want that too. Going mobile is really about enablement I guess.

Having run my mind though, I am going to the one place where being mobile doesn't figure into anything for me, my bed. That is the one place where I can pray and dream about what is mobile-next, and then try for it when the new day comes.Read More

I was so supposed to be in Ville today for homecoming; but as I readied myself to leave, I just had no energy to do so. This week has been very long (in a lot of ways), and so I stayed behind today to catch up on that thing called rest. Good thing too, because I am sure that next week will be even crazier.

I just added a new feature to this site called Link Thumbnail. When you put your mouse over a link, you will (in a few secs depending on your connection speed) get a preview of where the link is going. It's a simple and really neat feature that I wish that many more info heavy sites would use. I will be putting this over to MMM in a little bit as this will come in handy with all the links that are pasted onto the various articles there. Thanks to Fadtasitc for the mention of this link (even though I swore that I referenced it before somewhere). I think that this will also come in handy for when I link to pics that have a larger version. Tis a new thing to try to explore a better use of for sure.

It feels like this week went by witout me posing here much. Most of that was the new keyboard, that is thankfully getting replaced with one a bit bigger and just as functional. I really do enjoy posting here, though my words probably come to the chagrin of some. Oh well, I never said that taking a differnt look at the internet meant that it had to be an agreeable one...just a differnt one.Read More

This for me is a case of where my memories have caused me to settle down. You see, it was 3 years ago today where Kyera and I met and two days later we began dating (on my end with the intention of getting married). Just under 3 years she and I were both left wondering where is all that invested time to go and why. I don't know, but I do know that for the next few months that my memories of us together (mostly pleasant though not misplaying any of it) will cause a good deal of reflection and a task to walk towards healing so that (Lord willing) a friendship could resume, and I'd be open to write again without major wounds filling in for ink.
-- end of that thought to another --

It is not that I really want to be unsociable, but I am better when the groups are small and the pace is slower. There doesn't have to be food, but it helps. There doesn't have to be much but a conversation and and opportunity to chance something different. Many parties and recent get-togethers have reinforced this notion, me now looking for quieter places and softer tones over pineapple juice.

-- end of that thought to another --
I can change thoughts like that since I am on the Metro. But if an earlier thought were to come to pass, I would probably spill less ink here. Having some as friends is really cool because they tell you the truth and allow you to hear their heart too. However I do wonder if holding onto some truths makes one go from faith to dreaming?

-- back to that first thought --
I am sorry to have wasted your time. I do hope that everything does end working towards your good. I'll return to a sense of normalcy when my heart is settled, but not before.

Off the Metro to a restful and possibility tea-ed night. Plus there is no more ink in my pen...
- sent from TreoRead More

here I am typing wiith thnew keyboard nd it doesn't work well. the size is too small for dong rea work.
-- end of that experience, now typing with thumbs --

I type better using my thumbs on the Treo's thumboard. I guess that a bigger portable keyboard is what would work for me. oh well..
- sent from Treo

PS: add to things that are bugging me is the fact that Mo:Blog isn't posting my posts. I am not happybeans.Read More

I really should be in bed, but just getting off the phone with Trev, I have been looking for some software for his new BB. I am not the bigest fan of BBs, but they are devices that I need to know a good deal more about, and moreso than just the shell knowledge that I have about them.

Sorry to all who are looking at the site thru Internet Explorer 6 and things are all over the place. A simple fix on my end would be to resize the pic from a few posts back, but really you should update your browsers. Besides the pic being fixed, you would benefit from a faster and much more secure browsing experience. Download Internet Explorer 7 (released this Monday), or Firefox 2 (released this Wednesday), or Opera 9 (just updated last week) and enjoy the web the way that it was meant to. Of course, if you use a mobile device to come here, then that pic wouldnt be an issue at all ;)

Speaking of new browsers, there are a few new ones being developed/already developed for the Palm. When they get here for me to check out I will do a full explaination or review. Until then, just save up for higher cell bills because you will want to be more more with things...ok, maybe not. But it was at least a try to get you to want to get a smartphone and keyboard and just go :)

MU homecoming this weekend. Haven't been to one in a while and so I hope that it wont be told cold there. Who am I kidding, its going to be freezing. Burrrrr!!!

back to software hunting for a bit longer so I can get to bed. Broke both the no desktop posting and early to bed rules of this week. thank God its Friday (Pre-Friday took long enough to get over with).Read More

I am hoping for a new keyboard that I ordered to come in at some point this week. I gave away my old one to a friend, and so I ordered this new one because it would have both good usability for me, and then futire value if I decide to move to a phone that is not a PalmOS Treo.

I am always looking at new phones for one reason or another though. Most of that is becasue I really like the idea of mobile computing. I do have to find a way for me to get off this desktop reliance so much though. I like using the Treo instead of the desktop, but it is harder to do thing like post blog pictures becasue I cannot have the browser open to more than one page at a time. Also, not having a keyboard now is a bit of a downer to getting posts done in the frequency that I want to do them.

Goal for the week is to only post here via the Treo. Might make for short posts, but it will be better for me to do in the long run.

On the hardware side of things, I see the new Treo 680 that is not too much of an upgrade over my 650, but it is nicer. One website is doing an extended review of it and I have to say that I am impressed at the little things so far. Does that mean I won't get it? Nah, I probably will (even if I don't go thru Cingular to do so); but I do admit that for once, I am considering leaving my familiarity with the PalmOS one (the 680) and considering the Windows Mobile one (the 750v) - bcause of slightly increased usability for me with web related items.

Of course, I can just chuck the farm and get a device like this one...
and I am pretty sure that none of you would be remiss in seeing me with it either (lol)

Even though my main job has told me that I cannot talk too much about what I do there on my blog here (confidentality agreement thingy); there are side jobs that I do that I can and will chat some about. And to some extent, I will talk about things related to (but not directly related to) my main job. But not to the point where I draw any more attention to anyone (at least I hope so now that I know that I have a few new visitors ;)

Speaking as one who is in some part enjoying singleness, and in another part wanting that compaionship of a co-laboring lady:
It was really neat to just play with kids in church again today. This was probably the first time that I have done children's ministry where my heart ended the day with wanting to be a dad (and be a good one). I don't know if that is a sign of things to come, but I do know that its something that Ima pay a bit more attention to.

Since I did say that I need to get to bed by 12, I need to get off of here. Seven hours of sleep might make tomorrow not as bad a day. Of course, seven hours of sleep that the Lord grants would make any of this time fly by all the much better.Read More

Sleep, Work, Oxymorons
Sleep:
I haven't been getting it like I should and therefore trying to rest yesterday was a fustrating exercise. I really need to nail 7hrs of sleep no matter what. This whole 5hr thing aint it.

Work:
Huge project (to me) due Monday. Went in on Say to knock a few hrs off and brought some home to work on today. Not cool, and at some point I hope to get better skollwise to be able to handle these things.

cannot work and sleep at the same time. Even sitttimg in my car now I know that.
- sent from TreoRead More

I know that I said that I would try for the shorter postings, but this was a good one IMO to write out.

One of the many aspects of the various jobs that I do is information gathering. I do a ton of reading. On any given day I would read about 100 emails and 30-60 different websites. To some websites, I tend to read them multiple times a day because of fact-checking or just that they present that much content. So, you can pretty much assume that finding a means to read those sites easier would have been a God-send. And to some extent RSS has been, but in using it, I do realize why it is not something that others have yet caught on to use.

I had this thought today when on the way to work and read on a similar topic via RSS. However the explaination was more technical than most people would care to read. If you will, think of RSS as the plane-jane newspaper articles, without the fluff of formating on a page, presentation elements (except for a few images here and there), and a small enough size that it can be viewed on a mobile phone or a desktop browser just the same. Sounds neat right? You get the news and information you want, and for the most part you get to slide past advertisments and the stories that you don't want to read. So what's the problem? Simply put, RSS is too technically simple to grasp and therefore no one knows really how to deliever it.

For example, you have the browser Firefox. Great browser for many people, and you can even import RSS feeds in a feature called Live Bookmarking. However, after you get past 10 or 20 sites, it gets really hard to read. Instead of a nice organizational system (the only method is cascading folders), you just get a longer and longer list. Great if you have time to scroll thru each one looking for the new articles, but if all you want to do is read then you are out of luck.

For another example, you have RSS reader programs. These programs take in RSS feeds, and then usually present them to you in a readable fashion. One that I use on my Treo is called Quick News. Quick News is a great program, but besides being a slight performance hit, it really does take a long time to set up your feeds. And heaven forbid that you find the feed URL via the Treo's browser. You would have to copy the URL, open Quick News, add the feed, paste the address and add the accompanying information, and then sync the feed. At this time none of that is automatic, and therefore what could make for a great reader, has just become an administrative nightmare.

A final reason that RSS isn't catching on is that the audience that can best use RSS have no idea that they can best use it. RSS is not (yet) a technology that can market itself. It needs a reader, it needs to be updated, and it even needs to be formatted properly depending on the standard used. If I were one to be developing an application for an organization that has a newsletter, one of the first technologies that I would use is RSS as a means to get the different content sections into the newsletter and then a program on various devices that delievers it in such a way that models reading it from a paper. RSS is really simple syndication of content, getting it should be simple too ya know. If you will, taking RSS from just being a content container, but to a part of a process that makes getting the content on mobile devices and alternative formats an easier process for those who are not developers.

This is not to say that things cannot get better. I personally think that RSS has the potential to be made into a newspaper-lite for many people (whether you have a PDA, smartphone, ebook reader, or laptop). New updates to Internet Explorer and Firefox will bring to the forfront more of what RSS is and what it can do for gathering information from various sources. Mobile browsers are even getting into it via services such as Google Reader and the Symbian models that have an RSS reader built in. And at the same time, great technology usually doesn't mean much to anyone unless it is simple to use and maintain. RSS is there as a tech, but just has a ways to go yet.Read More

Originally posted at Palm Addict:

...Where things though get to me is what my Treo has symbolized for me. You see, the Treo is probably the latest in a series of many steps that I have taken since getting my first computer in 1998. Then, I got a used Pentium 1 233Mhx used for $1000 (only to see it next week for $800 and better equipped). My father allowed me to dig into my savings for a Pentium 3 450MHz and from thern on each upgrade has always been about making things more accessible and yet keeping memory of where I had been...

Read the entire posting at Palm Addict.Read More

The Smile of a Child
I just transferred from the red to green line and had the best experience of my day. A little boy began talkiing to me as soon as I got on the train. He wanted to show me the bowling game he was playing on a cell phone. His mother thought he was a nuicance, but all that he was to me was a lot of joy and a reason to smile.

It was so cool even watching him look back at me as I got off the train at the same spot he did. He was so happy and amazed that I was getting off. His mother was trying to keep him turned towards the front, but he just kept looking back and wanting to speak. All I could do was smile.

I wonder what made him be so readily friendly? It sure has made me smile a lot since then though.
- sent from TreoRead More

I just posted this at HCR.FM but wanted to leave it here as well;

For more than a few years now, my grandfather had been suffereing from many manners of sickness. From prostate cancer to unexplained ailments, his body was just breaking down. About a bit more than a month ago I was told that his kidneys had completly shut down and that they had to use a capheter (sp?) so that the body wastes could be removed. However that did not work. In a three day period he went through three surgeries trying to fix that issue. However, his body was rejecting those things. Basically, his body was well used and tired, and it was time to go. As a family we knew for a while, we just waited for the news.

And so it was about three weeks ago that I was on the Metro on the way home from work when my aunt called. Being that I was about to go underground (and I don't have Verizon Wireless), I ignored the call. Quikcly coming upground my mother called (not even two minutes later). At that point I knew that my grandfather had passed and I was being relayed the news. I was sad, and at the same time I knew that his passing means a lot of things, especially for the men of my family.

And so I purposed in my heart that night, after talking with my aunts and mom that I would do a memorial for my Grandpa. Something just a bit different, but most definitely me. And at the same time, I would take my time and make sure that it was most definitely "Grandpa thru my lenses."

Last night I completed the memorial. I was listening to Fred's latest CD when I was finishing up and could only say "thank you Lord" for just the opportunity to use a gift that I have been given, as a means to show appreciation for my Grandpa. Sure, I led prayer at the funeral service (that by itself was a gift to me and a sign of things to come) and even had the most harsh character check in recent memory; but no one could take away the grace that God allowed for just one moment in time, just one set of atoms that could come together for that memorial.

I share that becasue in part I want you all to take part in memory. Not because we remember what we lost, but that transisition to remembering what is gained and where we grow into when things are removed from our lives. I hope that you (whomever you are) find peace in this season, and know that those things that God has removed, make way for you to step into something that there wasn't room enough for before (even if not moving into that which was removed, u move up).

Thanks for letting me share yall; I appreciate your listening eyes.Read More

That Passion
I was just reading my RSS feeds on the way to work now and read an excellent article about passion.. I know that many people lack a passion for this or that, but I never seemed to be one of those folks. Sure, I might be a bit off-centered when it comes to cars, Treos, mobile tec, web design, etc. but those things are aspects of a larger passion to connext people in ways that build community. Sure, my methods might be just a bit different than most. I still yet enjoy life and all that live it with the same passion to move forward.
- sent from TreoRead More

I finally have gotten my memorial to my Grandpa complete. I might have to slide in a larger picture though. The theme is based on some Asian art I remember from my youth where there were just texttures and solids overlaid with them. Then the aspects of life had color to them that was very contrasting. I see the logo and Grandpa doing that.

This was truely rewarding for me to do in so many areas.

I also fixed the default skin to adapt better to mobile devices that support the @media handheld CSS. Then I also fixed that issue that made the bullets in this posting look bad. So that should be it for now.

As for me, worship and memories have ended at this point. Thanks Dad for a good night of rest.Read More

All I have to say that is if this were true, I'd have a M5 sooner rather than later ;)

View video.Read More

I know that as a developer that I can sometimes harp on other developers and designers. But that is just me taking too close a look at things that most people never would see (aka, being critical). But I do give props where it is due.

Props #1 goes to Mobible:
Before today I had not heard of MoBible. But considering a post that I made at MMM talking about a Bible reader that could work on any phone and be usable online and offline. Mobible was created a good long time ago, and from the looks of things, the time is just about right for it to pan out for a slew of folks. Here's hoping that soon there would be a review on MMM about MoBible and maybe even some more support and development for this accessible and great resource.

Props #2 goes to Porsche (via Autoblog):
Many people know that I like to drive fast. And I am not lying one bit in saying that if I had a Porsche that I would certainly drive a lot faster. But seeing the new 911 GT3 RS minisite just gives me an appreciation of great development, plus just seeing (and nearly feeling) the speed that is only found in a Porsche. You need Flash and a high speed connection to view this, but it is certainly worth going to a library or local wifi hotspot if you cannot do so at home or on your mobile device. Impressive, just flat out impressive.


Props #3 goes to all the folks who are pushing the mobile web. There are way too many people to name, and trust me; I am not going to. You just have to stay tuned. I can promise you that in a few years time that you will do more, or watch others do more, with a mobile device than you ever dreamed of (and I might just be one of those folks).Read More

Its late, there are issues with an MMM posting, and I am sleepy. So what do I do, I go over toe TreoCentral and a post that I made some days ago asking for a certain program to be considered for development. And while it seems that I got a good response, I sometimes wonder if as a developer that we go about things the hard way for one reason or another. Like, at one time the Internet was a bunch of type commands and such. There were a group of people happy about that, but things really got good when a "browser" was put on top of that to make it easier to view the Internet and the information you wanted to see. Novel idea, simplify.

That post reminded me about how much I don't like to simplify. And at the same time, there are aspects in my life where I do. When it comes to my apt, I have nearly no furinature. Choice really. I like things simple, and I don't have so many guests that I need to have a lot. Its a simple way of living, and while I think I would be better having a cooler's furinshed pad. I like this better as there isn't so much that I need to maintain.

I just wish that asking for a program was that simple.

EDIT: And I wish that there were no issue with Blogger either...bah humbug.Read More

Tapping Away
As I sit waiting for a friend to come to the car so we can get to church, I thought that it would be a good time to at least start this post.

Yesterday, I played the man of two state and three cities as I drove between Lancaster, Pa, Annapolis, MD, and Washingtion DC. early Sat had me meet mom (and Grandma and Basil) at Lancaster's Central Market. Then from there Trev in Lancaster. To York after that to meet with James and ended up givimg him my Palm keyboard since we could not find a new one for him. An hour after getting gas in York I hit a traffic mess in Crownsville. Then made it to the back-end of a cookout. After that went to DC for a house party (literally, we watched House).

Right now I am in church and a bit tried from all the driving. But my heart is ready to serve and be served. Gotta go, message is now starting.
- sent from TreoRead More

I need to get a pic to finish the memorial CSS/design for my grandfather that I started here. I am also aware of issues of rendering in IE (things just fall apart) and FF (when the screen gets under a certain length) and will fix those as well.

The default skin has a few mobile and listing fixes still, but those are coming.

The Emerald skin might not see any fixes other than the side menu, but that is really and iffy on my end. I really don't know what I want to do with that skin. Ah well, tis da web and something will happen.Read More

Now you all know I like my Treo. Heck, I use it as my computer when I can. Today a new one has come out (available in Nov or Cingular but dont know who else just yet) that is a bit smaller and a tick updated from what I have.

Will I get it, probably/probably not. Depends on how my 650 lives on. I have been considering getting a bigger battery for mine (same size more capacity) so that I can go longer from the charger (I need to charge every night the way I use it) and this Treo 680 has a smaller battery so I dont know that it is really one that I should go for.But since its going for somewhere in that $200 range (not over but most definitely under), its a heck of a thought.

Now,if I could get something that is as good, and then a step or two up, then I most def will look at getting that instead, but I do so enjoy using my Treo 650.Read More

As I am finally getting back to writing some, I find that there are just so many things that I want to do, and in many cases, I have tried to do them. But none of that had been healthy as I was just trying to do too much. Tis ok to take a break. And when yor body starts breaking down, you really need to take that downtime, despite other things going on.

So where is today? A big lessong today, which comes in part from the book I read recently is that sometimes its best not to be a hero. I know me, I have this tendancy to want to fly in and rescue, but tonite was one of those times when I didnt and was at peace about it. The Lord even gave me a song about it to teach me what He was saying. Wild yes, but I better let Him do Him. Miracles are better that way.

[removed]

Plans are afoot for a few trips in November. I honesly cannot wait to be able to go, but I know that I wont be able to go lest I get my ducks in order in other areas. Tis will be some prayer and application there for sure.

A new Treo is coming out tomorrow. As much as I don't need one, it would be cool to go new again (I admit now, smartphones are my vice, so lee me alone ;)

Before I close this posting, I just want to draw your attention to this post at Sphere of HipHop. Not only is it confronting, but it is also convicting. I pray that the law of the Lord reigns in you over the law of culture and humanity.Read More

I have been sitting on this question for most of the back end of the summer, and I am still not sure yet. So Ima post it here and see what happens - k?

There are some accessories that I would like to purchase for my Treo that would enhance my usage of it. However, my Treo has really been getting a hard batch of use with me treating it as a laptop replacement since March. I wonder if it would be a good idea to invest in these accessories, or if I should just hold off and wait and see if it is that the Treo wouldnt last long enough to really make use of these accessories.

Here are the accessories in question:
- Seidio 2-in-1 Over-the-Ear Headphones
- Seidio 2400mAh Extended Battery
- Smartphone Experts Retractable S&C Cable

The reasons for getting them are pretty solid:
- better headphones that are comfortable and give equal sound in both ears
- a larger capacity (but same physical size) battery that would give me power to spare on the days when I need the Treo a lot, but will not be near a charger or carry the power cable in my car
- my sync cable that I have been using since my Palm T5 is no longer working

Tis not a question of funds, just whether it is worth it. I have had my 650 since Christmas of last year and still dont see anything that will replace it as it really has met my needs. I just wonder and therefore wanna put it out there. What do you think?Read More

I just love that song. It is plesant from both an instrumental and vocal standpoint. Excellent and classic right there I tell ya.

Today had been a holiday for federal workers, but since I no longer work in counyt gov, I didnt get the day off. It sure was nice not to have a lot of traffic though. Very, very nice not to have a lot of traffic on the way into work.

I realize that when it is that I look at websites, mobile tech, etc. I am really one to look at it differently than others, even some around me who are in the tech industry. And it is not so much that they don't see it, but I tend to see and want to move towards those mobile/usable/accessible aspects more than I do just the new features/faster/smaller side of things.

Was on another computer and noticd that the pic of my new CDs blows this skin up. I really dont wanna fix it, but I shall do so on my Treo and then upload that fix when my webpage editor program fixes its FTP.

New Treo is coming, and I was told by someone(s) who have em. Ain't ungrading till mine goes breaky though. I just dont wanna upgrade lest I really had to you know.

Off to bed now, my back is killing me and the heating pad is working on the area that its on pretty well.Read More

I know, I have been posting a lot today, and if you havent been here in a few weeks, you missed stuff (that's why there are Archives on the sidebars).

But aside from that, one of the points that I have been trying to explain to people is that the web needs to be accessible because the computer that people are using to view the web in our wide world is usually the computer found thru the screen of a phone. With more and more countries with an appropriate infrastructure to have high speed internet, and then the availability of handsets that are not just feature filled, but cheap with not always expensive services, the point that the mobile web is about to take off is actually a bit behind the curve (though some aren't behind, and I wanna meet and converse with them).

And if numbers continue to rise (as I think they will). One can expect that the US will fall behind not so much because we dont have the technology, but its almost as apprent in computing as it is in automobiles, we want bigger and think its better, not efficient that makes an artistic and functional case of advancing communities and societies as a whole.

Oh to have a paradigm shift in thinking and doing what works, not just what is traditionally comfortable to fit into today's times.Read More

I just had to post these, click on them for the larger versions from my SplashBlog.

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I have this old song by Kirk Franklin in my head now called "More than Life to Me." In that song he sings about how Jesus is beyond those tangeable things that we normally define as life, but that Jesus is our very essence. Love that song; it always ministres to me.

Of course, per my normal course of singing, I tend to change the words and make a song that is totally different (sometimes silly) but speaks about what is on my heat. My song says "More than Mobile Life to Me." And the inspiration is again found at Neo-Nomad, but moreso thru the links on her site that speak about different perspectives and occurances of mobile technology as a part of life (such as GoToMobile), but a part that reaches beyond the 2D of things, and into the humanity of things. Of course, those sites are much deeper speaking and minded than I; but I do just feel that using a mobile device is more than just a facy phone or MP3 player that does a bit more than its original function. Mobile tech solves a communiation snaffu of passiveness, and at the same time breaks that *nice* celiling of the digital divide.

Of course, I do write all of this having ripped my new CDs onto a computer because my Treo's connection isn't fast enough to download all of these songs to my memory card in a convinent manner. Gotta love that mobile life.Read More

The past few days have been in part looking back and another part looking forward. in terms of looking forward, I am looking towards doing better at work with newer and more challenging assignments. At the same time, I think I can bring some things to the table once I tune up my knowledge tree some. Then there is some advancing happening on MMM's new design that gives me confidence to move into the next steps since the design is basically done (and now the fun stuff of breaking it down, and redoing the content comes into play).

Then there is the look back. Looking back over decsions made over the past months, I can really say that God's control of everything is peace-giving. And then getting an old James Hall CD reminded me of many of the songs that we used to sing in choir. The first one, He Lives, was just a cool song to both sing and be ministered to by. Its a cool thing to have that look back and forward as life is going on.

(trying a new thing, writing less, did I do well :)Read More

And What's the Point of a Computer Then
I am here on the metro on th way imto work and I read this article on how people at a particulasr government job surf om the web wiry their computers in adition to, and sometimes more than, they do work on them.

Uts silly, but if your job is crunchimg numbers or watching graphs, maybe then you need a computer purposed just for that. For companies to give machines to people and they use them for work and professional uses should not be a slight on the people but on the company's processes and the level of work people can do.

I am not advocating to give more work, bur give a tool that fits for the job and not on that has such extended uses that it can be a distracruon. Then again, I don't want my job telling me what is a distraction and what isn't.
- sent from TreoRead More

Problably a bit lower than PDAs/smartphones on my list of technology items is the issue of website accessiblity. And I don't mean accessibility in terms of what the web can do for people with disabilities (that to me is too shortsighted). I take a similar position to what is explained at 456 Berea St.'s latest article, accessbility means making the web accessbility to everyone (mobile, disabled, PC, Mac, Internet Explorer, Safari, Linx, etc.).

What good is the fastest reaching communication medium if it can only be read and accessed by only 10% of the people that need it?

Update:
I didn't feel like writing a new post because it is so close in subject to the original. But when one is designing a site, its because you want to solve a problem, not because something fancy is being done (a point lost on many in the MySpace crowd IMO, but gathered by some). When developers and designers get to the point of designing and using the web to solve problems, issues of accessiblity and usability become less of a concern, and more of a function.

Update #2:
An article at BBHub, I am again feeling perturbed. Granted, they are only talking about one of the largest encyclopedias in the world (online or off), but the fact that a special version has to be made for BlackBerries (and here is a list for other devices at Mobile Read) just underlies the point that the Internet is too fractured if we have a web and the same info, but cannot access it easily no matter the device or location. In this respect, things are just a mess.Read More

A statement that I have heard now four times since Sunday: "be a man."

I have to say that the first three times I didn't get it. The first time was just one of those talks that makes you go, "uh ok." The second time it was being told to be a man and do man things (yet a bro had no man context from which was being told). The thrid and fourth times came from women (no offense, but I cannot tell them to be a woman, how does one then say be a man lest they know the man - and only in the second woman's case is that true).

And so I sit here at work texting back and forth (talking on the phone isn't the practice here if at all possible) and was told after a lengthy session of thumbing (typing on my Treo) that I should "be a man and..." Not at all surprised now, I am beginning to realize that this statement carries weight, but what does it really mean in those four instances that I was spoken to?

A man is first and formost God fearing. A man who unquestioningly follows after God in the face of perescution, strife, and struggle. Who admits his defeat at the throne of God and pleads for mercy on behalf of Jesus Christ. A man is one whos hands are marked with workmanship and produces life thru craftmanship. This man knows fear and love, and they usually abide in the same sentence. A man is acquaited with his failings, and admires his successes. Readily able to defend those he loves, and readly movable when those he loves must reap what they have sown. A man cares for his family (present), and looks towards his family (future) with seeds of Godliness and purpose. By design he is purposed to love his wife, yet not at the expense of loving God more. For her he would give his life, and for his kids he sacrifices daily. His cross is both cultural and mental, as he fights against the weights of his day, while making a mark for a bar to be reached and surpassed by others in the future. This man knows and grows. This man begins and ends with honor and worship of God.

No, I am not there yet. I let the words flow on this one. God has probably many more to give me, and a lot more than that to teach. In any case, to hear it four times either means I am going in the wrong direction, or that I am surpassing the view of those looking at me. Either can be true, but knowing the expanse of the Will of God, I doubt that the former is valid at all.Read More

I hope that you all enjoyed that last posting. I honestly have two in queue on my Treo and just haven't gotten to posting them. Don't think there is a need to (they would need to be rewritten), but I reserve the right to change my mind.

I know that I am late in doing this one so here it goes:
One of my friends from back in college and I have been chatting it up on IM about her marriage, teaching, and smarpthones. She runs a website here. Its a really neat journal of her thoughts. Check her out (or get in her class).

I am sure there are some more of you who visit whom I don't highlight, so just let me know and I will post about ya, and even add ya to the side bar when I get a longer than a morning minute.

I've been continuing my read of Boundaries. I have to say that it is a really afronting book. There are many aspects of my personality where I felt that I had been honorable, but really where I had compromised and been worn down because I have. Tis a great book and I encourage you to read it, even if you don't know if you deal with boundaries issues or not (I am not giving mine away, so don't ask).

Another book that I read (just this Monday) - yes! I read a book in one day, and its more than one PAPER book at at time; Jesus can come back now HAHA! - is by Graham Cooke and talks about the hiddenness and nearness of God. There are some parts of the book where he clearly doesnt take Scripture in its context, and yet still makes his point clear that there are times when God is hidden from us (to build faith) and times when he is not hidden (to show Himself strong to quote Fred Hammond - new CD for him today too). I read it, and want to see if I can soak it in again at least once more this week. There is some good stuff there about just diving into the presence of God that I sorely needed to hear again and again this past weekend.

My bro LJ has released a new redesign to Trailblazin Ministries. He is using a slick new content management system and there are some really neat features in it that will be opened up over the next few weeks. Its a great site, with some great reviews and devotional content. I encourage you to take a look, its a bit different than the norm (which is a great thing).

New website being released at work that I have worked on. Its about cocoa and should be up now actually (not looking for the link as I am getting tired at this point).

Here are a few other links that have piqued my interest over the past days:
Web Based Faith

http://www.davidrussell.org/ - well designed site
> He designed this site, Theatre Church

Mobiles in city gov - check the silly dude; made me laugh all day

And the obligitory mobile phone posting :) - Mobus Boston via Smartphone Thoughts

That should have me all caught up now. All I have to do is sleep and do this run again tomorrow (with more afterwork meetings galore too, gotta love it). Peace.Read More

Many of us use webpages, and as a matter of fact, because of the evolution of the Internet, we really have a hard time in telling a good webpage from a bad one. A good web page is one that is deeemed great from a design perspective, usable, accessible, and reaches for an area in communicating that others have not done before, or others have done, just more successfully. But there really is nothing that one can do about noticing about whether a webpage is good or not until they dig under the pictures and links. You have to dig into the source code to see how it is made, see how it is put together. And from that you know for sure if a web page is great or not. Of course, there is no perfect webpage, but there are plenty of successful ones that are badily designed and implemented. However good or bad, they all make the Internet that we know and use.

Some notable aspects of a well designed webpage:

• Declaring a DOCTYPE:
  A website's DOCTYPE indicates the rules by which the rest of the page will follow. It indicates aspects such as the HTML standard, as well as default language of the content on the page. Pages without this declaration will display in a browser in what's called a quirks mode (think of this as a lukewarm viewing mode, it's not optimized but just barely good enough for the browser to show you something).



• Semantic Markup:
  Semantic Markup means that the webpage was designed such as one puts together a document for formal viewing. The content is organized in lists, content nodes, appropriate headers and links, images that have a text tag, and other text-based features that enable one to remove the clothing (colors, styles, and functionality) from the site, yet it would still be able to be easily read and understood by a visitor. Semantic markup is both orgnaized and logical, however the writing is no less creative and concise as the content is apart from the presentational (colors, styles) and functional (scripts) matters.



• Versatile Display Across Devices:
  A website that has semantic markup but then also uses a stylesheet (CSS) to shape the presentational elements is best enabled then to also be viewed easily across several types of devices and device types with minimal (if any changing) of the underlying code or content. Why this is important is that a webpage no longer becomes confined to being viewed on a desktop, but can be viewed on a mobile phone, in a classroom via a projector, via a text-based browser, or even printed on paper and give a consistent and usable expression/communication. In this case as well, the CSS plays the role of governing where and what content variations are supported, and then a server-based or in site control might govern futher. In either case, the page itself is not left to determine where it goes, it only says where it stands and goes not to the other variations nicely.



• Code that Validates, Yet Is Accessible
  one of the favorite aspects of designing a webpage/website for US government (and many European governments) websites is that pages must pass an site validator to ensure that the code is written properly and that it is at the very basic levels, usable to those who might have a difficulty in accessing the content as it is formatted/presented. A validated site does not make it any more usable, it just means that a developer/designer has done the bare minimum in ensuring that the aspects of content that matter, are in some manner accessible to all people. Various services allow one to test validity of HTML, CSS, and even JS (java scripting, i.e. that which makes the pages dynamic ("living")), however all of them have the common goal of making sure that the webpage is accessbile and usable by as many peolpe as possible.
  

These are only a few aspects of what goes into a webpage, but these draw some very interesting connections to the Christian in our world today. Here are a few notables from the above points:

• While there are many who claim the be spiritual and even believe in God, our world will show them as such without asking for any further inspection. However, when one takes a look into their lives, we will then see who it is that they are declaring as the rules they will live by. And though some may be very well versed in various languages, and even use them. If those languages are not recognized by the human lexicon, then it is considered a quirk and the world shows them as spiritual, while there is no rule to affirm that display in their declaration.



• Many of us have lives that are marked by inconsistencies and character traits that make us a different shade than the people around us. However, when those things are removed, do we cease to exist as one called apart by God, or are we even more readble to those around us who might be turned off by particular actions, words, dress, or culture?



• The amazing thing about a gift is its ability to go anywhere at nearly anytime. But the declarations in our life lead us to knowing when and where we should be displayed and where we have no say nor any show towards a topic or arena. Our ability is indeed large in scope, but there is a time for one thing, or a time for many. Very rarely are we asked to be all things to all people at all times.



• Can a person put us up to their tests of what a Christian should be and we come out validated? We might be misformed, and even on the wrong part of the website (wrong place at this season) but are we yet passable when someone who is not concerned about our content wants to know about our overall structure and ability to be used. This is to say that we are to be judged by the world around us, and not that we should pass their test of "what consistutes a Christian," but we should leave no questions unanswered about what kind of Christian we are.

Conclusion:
This is only some of what had been going thru my mind today as I read various websites and discussions. Part of the interesting thing is that even as a designer, I realize that I am constantly tweaking and testing teh sites that I do. And much like what God does to me, He wants me to be usable, accessible, and (if the situation merits) mobile. However, this also means that the test of who is a Christian does't necessarly come from looking at the outside and whether they display (as a webapge). The testing comes from getting into what makes them, seeing Whom they declare as Lord and how they observe His rules, how their lives are designed according to His standards, and then coming to the conclusion based on those things that they check out as one of His. I don't think that I have at all exhaused the connections between the Body of Christ/indivuduals in the Body of Christ and making a webpage, but I do think that this much is an insight worth noting at this point.Read More