AntoineRJWright.com: 02/01/2007

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Lola and the Shoes

I know, what are a picture of my horrible collection of shoes doing here? Well, there is a bit of a story about it if you want to read on.

My usual trip home consists of two metro subways and a car ride. Normally speaking, I get to spend a lot of that time reading news and reflecting on the day while listening to music. Such was the case as usual when I transferred from the red to the green line and found myself a solo seat. As soon as I got comfortable a woman sat next to me and then her observation disrupted my music, but changed the course of the ride home.

"Do men look at shoes," she asked. Initally, I was not sure that I even heard her correctly. Then she said, "look at that woman right there. What do you think about those shoes?"

Now normally, I do look at shoes. Heck, I look at everyone's shoes. There really is not much else that one should look at while on the metro. But to be engaged with that question had me thinking some.

Her name was Lola and she is a Mexican American from California; at least that is what she told me in that short time that we talked until her stop. Her questions were in one part interesting because she was asking me if women really do care about those things, such as shoes (because she does not), and what kind of value are women and men really placing on their looks.

Of course, I thought about my shoes, and the nice but not great condition that they were in at the moment. Its interesting in talking with someone about something so simple as shoes how it can be pulled into your thoughts as something deeper and much more revealing.

So we talked about shoes, then perceptions, and finally I asked her what her name was. I personally figure that I might not run into a Mexican American named Lola from California on the Green Line ever again, but I wanted to remember. It is not often that my metro ride is broken by a conversation that I am in and find plesant.

And about the shoes. Well, I walked into my apt thinking long and hard, but had no reason why I wouldn't show what my shoes look like. At least now folks can say that my feet are plentiful and big too :)

Romans 10:15 (KJV)
...as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

How interesting to have a conversation with Lola about shoes. How interesting indeed.
posted via Mo:Blog

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Just Maybe...
I am still awake. I should be in bed and turning over onto the part of my back that is not sore, but I am awake. I've pretty much been browsing the web on my Treo the past few hours since getting back online with it and blogging as well here an there.

I realized at one point that I was working on the CSS for MMM on my Treo. Not that it was difficult except for the switching of programs and cleaning the cache in the web browser, but I noticed how at ease I was in doing so. I wrote a number of emails, and added some tasks to my list, and in general have been quite productive. But I am sill awake...

I know that I am a person who has always allow his passions for whatever to spill over into reality so to speak. I am wondering again if I am doing the right thing by sticking around, or if I am just fustrating the dreams that I wish to continue in.

A post that I read earlier said something that I have been saying a lot since August, "Live my life without any regrets." Its almost impossible to do so, but its something that I've made a better effort in striving for. Right now, I wonder about whether I made the right decsions about not moving earlier, or jobs that I could have taken. But I also have this knowledge of things that when I move on to the next thing, when that time comes, I shall be moving without having regrets of right now.

Whether it is people or places, I am just in the mindset that I do not want to have any regrets, yet still walk and trust God to direct my steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Maybe it is that I cannot sleep because of these thoughts. Just maybe it was God's plan for me to be up and consider these things just a bit longer than most would allow.
posted via Mo:Blog

Mobile, Me, Monday
Seems like things are back up and going with me being online. It was a weird thing where after getting a near phone call (it came and hung up), I was not able to get online for almost 2 hours. Kinda painful in that I needed to get things done before I got very tired (as I am now) and spent the better part of that 2 hours doing all types of things and even deleted some emails from my Treo in thinking that it was the email client that was the issue. Its back now, but that was weird.

Had a moment today of sorts. I got to work and just felt the need to pray around the office again. I didn't walk the entire thing, but it was just on my heart to pray for everything and everyone there. This has happened for a few days now and I don't know exactly why, but that I can respond to God and hear Him on occasion is somewhat reassuring.

Of course tonite, I was asking Him to speak louder so to speak. I spent some time in quiet (thanks ;) and nearly fell asleep but just put things before God and will do better in leaving them there. I realize that I'm way too passionate even for myself at times, and needing to just let go is something that I need to do much better.

Monday meant a day to me. But it is also a weird thing as Monday in some ways can shape the whole week. I read an article (posted at MMM) that talked about a different kind of social networking where devices really handshake when in a certain proximity to one another. I think its a great way to share information in a way that mimics a handshake. However its done though, its neat to me.

Question of the day:
Does living the Gospel mean that everyone you encounter meets and receives Christ, or just that you yourself better realize how much He wants to engage you yourself?
posted via Mo:Blog

Applications I'd Like to See {Improved]

As many of you know, I tend to use my phone for dang near everything. A posting I recently sent to Palm Addict talking about some things that I'd like to see improved, based on the title and direction of a previous poster's thoughts.
Universe 3 web browser for Palm/Garnet OS devices

Universe 3 web browser for Palm/Garnet OS devices

...My thoughts center around having a mobile browser on the Treo that is similar to Firefox and others in that it can accept plugins in order to increase the functionality. I think that in its current 680 mode, Blazer is just good enough. But if it were a browser that accepted plugins it would be much better...

Read the rest.

Snow Day, Snow Thoughts

Well, not today (it appears that things will be shoveled clean to go to work, blah).

Anyways, Sunday was a bit of a snowed in day. I finally got some outstanding articles done for Brighthand (and a few more now in queue). And I have a few more admin things on the MMM side, but that part isn't the thoughts that have come today.

I talked on the phone to an old friend from Ville. He's got a new job and it sounds like something right up his alley. He also has another surprise coming, but I shall not talk about that here. Twas good to chat, I so need to get up there and visit.

Today was kids day and I am throughly exhausted from them. But I tell you its fun. I like playing and learning from them. They expose so many things.

Speaking of that, was talking to my friend on the phone and she asked me a question about my previous relationship and for the first time that I can remember, I was nervous in talking about it. I normally am pretty open, but just to hear myself admit to some apprehension makes me wonder on so many levels if I've grown cold, or just closed to the matter.

Heard from another friend via email today, and that was great. Gotta love when Hotmail puts your emails in their junk folders though - sheesh, can a guy get a break. Maybe tea will be that break I need.

Sometimes its wonderful to have a quiet time. You can hear so many parts of your insides tick and tock. And then other times its lonely. Kinda of like a race car running a race by itself. I jump between those snow drifts, and hopefully one day some heat would come and melt this matter away so that I am left blooming to folks around me.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Flash Website Complaint; Where's the Accessiblity
...but the music is da bomb

No really. Being that I am on a mobile device, I am really staying away from Flash-driven websites. Mainly because the websites are not designed with mobile Flash, and even if they were, my Treo would not be able to view them anyways as it cannot do Flash (dang Macromedia and Palm).

But you see, there is this thing about websites being accessible, even when they are using Flash, that ALL DEVELOPERS should know. Basically, there is a function that you use to embed the Flash into a website, but if a person cannot view Flash, they just see plain HTML. In that plain HTML you can tell them the simple "you need Flash to view this website." Or, you can have a semblance of your site so that people can at least get some information (and search engines can easily find your site too).

So I got a new CD by Mr. J. Medeiros of The Procussions and love it. I have been banging the CD the past two days. One of those reasons why I want to get a new memory card is so that I could store this (and other CDs) on my phone and have them to listen to when out and about.

So, I went to the website on my work desktop and it was a good bit of Flash, but well done. I hoped that the developer of the site would have done things with forsight. NOPE. I go to the site a few minutes ago on my Treo and get nothing but a black screen and a email newsletter signup form box. I am highly disappointed.

This is not the first time this week either. I went to BMG's Sound & Spirit to decline a feature selection from my Treo and went to log in but nothing happened. They are using too complex of a script to just make a submit button work. Its horrible, and not because I cannot view it, but because there are A TON of people who will not be able to log into sites, listen to music, etc. because people don't design accessible websites.

The first rule of any website design should be "how do I make this content accessible to the most people?" Too often it is more like "how do I make this the most pleasing for me" and then the developers come in and say "I want to use this fancy script or function for me" and the end user is never thought of.

This is not the way to design websites. You have to have contingencies in your website for accessilbity and usability. Otherwise, your website cannot possibly be an effective outreach tool. Its just a tinkling brass amongst a sea of other brass instruments.
posted via Mo:Blog

Where I'd Like Mobile to Fit In
When I came home tonite after work and a run to the tea cafe, I sat down to drink my tea and eat my food with my Treo in my hand while I finished reading the news. I had this thought and just want to share it here.

My nearly perfect mobile fit would be where I'd come home, then sit my phone in a dock where it would become the communications router for my home (and charge itself). I would grab my sheet of e-paper and continue reading the RSS feeds, or read new ones streamed from online via my phone's connection. I'd also be listening to music or watching the game also thru the data connection that is my phone.

Because the phone would be docked, it would allow other family members to use that same Internet connection, however we would store our info on a family server that was not connected to the Internet. Our phones would connect to the family server to be backed up and synced with the family calendar.

At work, I'd have a mobile for work and plug that into a dock and use that mobile connected to a larger monitor and keyboard for admin work, but spend most of my time in front of people where I am using the web browser on my mobile device to capture and send information to the other party. All contacts would be mapped with geocoding on my personal mapping application, and my location in relation to them would be easily seen from a "today screen" item that also showed the appointment. My calendar and contacts would be integrated with the text messaging so that both myself and anyone whom I had to travel to a meeting for would get a text message of the meeting with any updated notes attached to the SMS for the meeting. While it would be that I would probably use a phone, the other person in the meeting would use a tablet PC or laptop and get the same information in a very similar view to what I see on my phone's screen.

It sounds almost utopian I know, but when I engage with my device now, this is what I picture as the best way to use it for brokering my interactions, not necessarly forming them.

Its the phone as a lifestyle device if you will. I just wonder how many people outside of the mobile web and phone industry see this same vision and push towards it?
posted via Mo:Blog

To Buy or Not to Buy

Hard decision at the moment. I don't know if I should get this memory card for my Treo. Here is my thoughts:
Image: 8GB SDHC card from NewEgg

- cost: $57 for 8GB of space, I have a 2GB card now, I paid $80 for it
- use: I have been wanting even less reliance on my desktop for storing music and personal docs, this would be sufficient space (for a while)

The other side of thoughts
- don't really need to spend the moeny
- thinking that a 16GB card may come out soon (reason for seeing such a low price) which would be better
- not sure of compatibility of larger cards with Treo.

Doesn't sounds hard to some, but its a biggie on my mind at the moment in terms of those things mobile-tech.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Mobile Lifestyle (part 3): Compromises
I think of this as a little bit of a pun as I am writing this on my Treo and cannot read the title of this post as the program I am using does not wrap the title line to the next line. But, it its own simple way, its a demonstration of some what what we encounter when it is that we make a decsion to go mobile instead of the norm (for most).

Compromise #1: The Device:
Probably the biggest aversion to using a mobile device is the fact that it is a mobile device. Depending on where you are nationally/culturally, your perceptions of what can be done in a general sense of computing and what you want to do in the sense of mobile computing are vastly different. The size of a mobile device is meant to foster a sense of personal portability. Its not meant in the strict sense to replace your computer, but it is meant to extend it. However, small screen sizes, weird buttons for text input, and smallish battery life presents a major issue of compromise in terms of going mobile.

Compromise #2: Software/Usability:
Outside of the devices themselves, the hardest thing to get thru with mobile devices is the software that we use to interact with our world. From confusing and conflicting menu systems, to inconsistent theming elements, to prorgams being fit into a small screen but designed for a large one, the software aspect of mobile devices is one that can be easily solved if developers and customers worked better together, and should be solved if we expect more people to think of a mobile device as a lifestyle device - not just another small computer (which is the issue that the article that I linked to above talked about)

Compromise #3: Perceived Increased Cost:
Truth be told, many people do not want to look at mobile computing solutions because they believe that being mobile is something that costs more money to make happen. And with the constantly changing mobile device and service climate, it can be quite difficult to find something at a stable enough price to get a compairson on before buying. I will not debate that mobile devices cost money, but I do think that this particular compromise is one of more perception than of reality. If one is to really measure how they use their various computing and lifestyle devices, and then look at devices that do the same or better that are converged devices, they might find that they can do just as much, if not a little bit more, because in a converged device, there is better integration of features and not so much administering to the tools to get them to work together correctly.

Conclusion
Granted, these are not all of the compromises, just a few of those that I frequently come across. Seeing that I am quite fresh from a conversation in talking about why it is possible to a family man that a more mobile computing solution would be better for him and his family, I can probably say a lot of this very easily.

No, I am not trying at all to convince you that you should go mobile. I am trying to address though that there are aspects of computing that we have done sitting down for a long time that were meant to be mobile. Looking at how we use mobile devices and weighing the positives and negatives of such an approach to computing is not only healthy if we do not want to move to something different, but smart in understanding where it is many in this work are and are moving to.
posted via Mo:Blog

The Worship of Victory - Revelation 19, 1 John 5:1-6

The other night I found myself on a phone call. Dismissing it as just an update I did not think that there would be a chance to fall. There I was sitting in my shorts and all, being asked about my sin and how I have dealt with it all. I nearly lost it there as I was angered at the line of questioning. You see it was just a few days before when the Lord watched me fall again greviously. But then as the call proceeded the truth began to share, that my part in the past was being asked to have another care. I did not think that I would be asked do boldly, but the questioning and pestering of the moment made me question the atonement. For me I needed a way out and thy words were my only recourse. Somehow in God I found some strength and the Lord began to show a severed cord. That soul tie, that soul lie that caused me to sin not even 30 days before. That old guy that broken guy, whom I didn't want to return to the floor...

Read the rest.

This was something that I wrote up last night and submitted to Trailblazin Ministries. Visit the site to read this and other devotionals.

A New Skin: Grounded

I want to know your thoughts on this new skin for my site. Do you think I should do it, or do you have comments as to what can be improved (besides the background header/footer images) with it?

Monday, February 19, 2007

Just Journaling...
Today was a bit of an interesting day. I had the day off from FH and so that gave me a good bit of time to work on some articles that have been sitting silent for a while (like the previous posting here), and I also got a good chance to get in some rest. Sure, I was up at my normal weekday time, but today was just a bit different.

I found that one part of the day was mental. I struggled with being at home without much to do. I had things on the plate, but nothing but me to push me along. Its been a long while since I had been in this place, and I feel that despite the day's resting (that was very needed according to the multiple naps that I took), I could have pressed into writing and webbing a bit more.

The other part of the day was realizing that I do need to step in and step up into God's plans for me. This is not to say that I don't think that I am in the right place now, only that I cannot let myself get too comfortable with the now, and do continue to press thru and press towards Him. I found some solace in reading 1 and 2 John today. Its been a while since reading the Word was a matter of enjoyment and rest, and not just a matter of duty.

I spent some time on the phone. Gotta admit that I should have been better prepared, but God did well with my heart. He gave me the words to say, and gave me the opportunity to move out of the way. I am thankful, tonite could have been one of repentance instead of joy in so many ways.

I ended the night with being here in front of this Treo. I've been debaating about whether to get a $57 memory card (8GB) as well as some security software (called BluePill). I don't know if it is that I want to make those purchases just yet. But I do know that the idea of much more space on this Treo does open me even more to the idea and working out of not being on the desktop unless it is needed.

I say that last part as if I were out all day. Nope, I didn't set foot outside my apt. It was truely a day in house clothes and under a blanket. And I guess that it should be like that. Sometimes we do just need to rest and let God fight - well, all the time but I'm working my way up to that point again. I believe that God can make anything possible, even if it is just another moonlit walk outside of a church... some memories are quite plesant to rehash.
posted via Mo:Blog

The Mobile Lifestyle (part 2)

I started talking a few days ago about the Mobile Lifestyle as being that point where computing is going for many people. The idea of the mobile lifestyle is simply that aspects of computing that are communicative (email, photo sharing, social networking, directions/mapping, etc.) are things that we can and want to be able to do more or less on the go, rather than be sat down in solitary areas. This leads the stationary computing elements of podcasting, IP-broadcasting, and media collection/organization as those last elements of a computing lifestyle that do not take away from interpersonal relationships, but it helps us to want to get around one another more often.

Sounds like this should be a paper, doesn't it...

The aspect of the mobile lifestyle that has been on my mind today has been that thought of where email fits into this. Email has both a stationary and a mobile aspect to it. For some, reading and sending email is similar to the older generational task of reading the newspaper after work. Emails are personal but one takes on the persona that email in and of itself is just a matter of getting new information, not necessarily a matter of "needed communication."

It is in the second group of email persons that we find that mobile connection, and problems as well as successes. From a ZDNet article:

..."When you look at the enterprise e-mail space today, most deployment is at the C-level and middle managers, the busy mobile executives. But they represent less than 2 percent of the total number of e-mail inboxes. The rest belong to less mobile mid-level managers and the masses below them, so there's still 98 percent of the market that is wide open to us... This means unlocking those 98 percent of e-mail inboxes that belong to users which Nokia describes as "skimmers". "These are people who just want to read e-mails and then take action," Nalappan explained. "They are mostly read-only users who are occasionally connected and using lower-end devices. They're the low-hanging fruit. But from a productivity viewpoint, this market is the key to expanding business mobility beyond the corner office..."

The connection that carriers and mobile phone makers are making is that people do want to read their emails on the go, but not at all be shackled by it. They want to be connected to the information that they need, but they do not at all want to break the bank nor the cost of being productive in doing so. It's in my opinion that services and devices (and costs) that mitigate mobile email as a hurdle for the general consumer will go a long way to helping people realize that being mobile is not necessarily a compromise, but an opportunity to do something great.

A major hurdle with this thought is that of personal devices in work settings. In many of our jobs and offices, there does not seem to be an issue with having a camera phone, or having a music player that you plug into your computer and stream and listen to music on. In far too many organizations, there is a lack of understanding of mobile devices, and therefore there are no security or mobile device policies that would enable usage, but mitigate fault on the side of the attending company. As a user, you just want to follow a simple policy of plugging in, but not copying or syncing. Once you do that, there is always a chance that security protocols have been breached. There should be something in writing though, far too many businesses have music player and PDA carrying people for there NOT to be a policy of some kind.

The last, and probably most important piece of the email-driven aspect of the mobile lifestyle is knowing how to shut things off for a time. For example, in one article the excesses of email keeping people away from people is detailed:

"...For 2007, the Rev. Mark Batterson of Washington, D.C., resolved not to check work email on his day off, so he could spend more time with his three children. Going offline is particularly tough for ministers, says Mr. Batterson, a 37-year-old pastor with the Assemblies of God. Pastors feel guilty if they aren't accessible all the time to co-workers and congregants, he says. "If God took a day of rest, then I need to, too," says Mr. Batterson, who has stayed email-free six Wednesdays in a row. "It's one thing I'm pretty religious about," he says..."

I can attest, taking yourself away from email when you have a device that can do email and everything else anytime is hard. But its in this lifestyle that one has to recognize the potential for getting things done (not always more things, but done differently), along with not losing yourself in the pursuit of something that is much more the idol than the heart.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

The Mobile Lifestyle
I have this working thought going on right now that I like to think of as the mobile lifesyle versus the just being mobile. If you will, its the idea that mobile computing is and has been the point of computing all along and that the steps taken now by devices, device manufacturers, and services to bring all of these things together into our lives creates a lifestyle where we are not revolving around the technology, but that it is interwoven into our lives.

I do not have it all thought out just yet. But, rather than keep the thought and not write, I wanted to start putting things in digital ink as to where I can see the digital lifestyle going/meaning:

- mobile computers and smartphones (or data-capable phones) become the hardware hubs around which we shape and make communicative interactions.

- web-services are the "web" that hold together the people and the process that ends up making community and "life" happen.

- issues relating to maintaining the environment, enjoying the environment, and political/community interactions take on more personal and niche audiences that have effects further outside their original scope.

- the educational window is made wider for students, but the building is harder to maintain by teachers and administrators as they are one part having to teach, but another part having to administer innovation and appropriate use.

These are just some of my thoughts, and I admit that they are largely incomplete. But this is some of where I see mobile computing becoming less of a "geeky" thing, and more of a part of day to day life for more and more people.

Kinda sad though that I was sparked again to write because of something that I read. I was just over at New Egg looking at memory cards and saw that they had an 8GB SD card for $56. I bought my 2GB card for $70 and that was a great deal when I did so. Now, I can have the space of an Apple iPod Nano in the size of a postage stamp, and place that into my phone, and literally have the storage necessary to not even get on my computer to grab music or other heavy files. I can just save them to my phone and just live. That is pretty amazing if you ask me.
posted via Mo:Blog

The Arts, PW, and Treos

Its been a good while since I have last come here to write. Part of that has been because there has really been some good sleep happening to my body. I am not sure if it is because of the change of season about to happen or what, but I have had an amazing amount of sleep the past week, and I have honestly enjoyed the pillows out of it :)

Yesterday, I got with my friend Aileen, and she and I went to an art gallery in Alexandra called the Torpedo Art Gallery. My guess is that it used to be a place where torpedos were made, but it has been repurposed into an art studio. Its really neat and the various studioes had a whole lot of different paintings, sculptures, and photographs. Probably the best ones were that of the watercolor and etching paintings, and the sculptor who make scenes inside of these cone-like items. I should have taken pictures, but I was really too busy remembering the arts in me that I used to be while enjoying some very compelling pieces.

After art, I went to a gatherg with folks from Holy Culture Radio. Probably the most interesting part of the night was the semon y Paul Washer that was spoken about. He talking about exaoming yourself and how that means putting down what you think you are, what you feel you are, and then taking who you are and measuring that against the Word. I found it interesting that he went into 1 John 5 as I have been in 1 John the past days and it has really been a case of examing myself.

I left that fellowship wondering on one end of me being a person who tries to objectively look at people, and then me as a person who always seeks a common ground. I had this mentality when I visited Ceader Ridge Communitty Church today and found that its either that I am looking at fellowshp wrongly, or that I am doing ther right thing at wanting to connect - only that at some point my witness about whether I am blameless or not will have to come to court.

*Wouldn't you know it. Trying to edit this post at the Blogger website from my Treo sipped it. That really sucks...

Friday, February 16, 2007

Early Riser
I am up extremely early this morning. The only reason (I believe) is because I went to sleep very early last night (9ish). Gotta admit though, my sofa is one comfy item to fall asleep on. I was knocked out on there not long after I read a chapter in the book The Blogging Church.

So what now? I went into the Word and read another chapter in 1 John. That is a part of the reading that I am doing with the discipleship group (1, 2 and 3 John). I've also just read 2 Peter.

The 2 Peter piece is really interesting as it was more of a "the heater turned to it when I wanted to get on the Treo and start reading" kind of thing. So I read the entire epistle and have an additional set of things to think about on this morning and throughout the day. I can see how the impatience of Jesus not being back "yet" could cause some to rail out against the established teaching of the disciples. Even to the point where some who had once been with the Body have left and now speak out against it. I kinda feel as if these two readings are a notice to me to "watch myself" and also one to pay attention to around me.

It's some interesting days that we live in that's for sure.
posted via Mo:Blog

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Early Morning Change
Its coming up on 3am and I am still awake. Beside prepring for a visitor to come later in the Thursday, I have been up and online thinking about making the move to using Microsoft Exchange as a primary means of navigating my email and contacts. Because I am using my mobile device more, I tend to want to spend less energy in front of Outlook every night. Now granted, I do have scores of email to delete off the server, but there has not even been as much of that lately as nearly all the spam has been nuked by my domain provider (I am extremely grateful for the upgrade).

However, in going to a web-based solution like Exchange, I had a few things to consider:
- would I use the Exchange account I already have with Brighthand (that would mean business and personal information on their server)
- would I go for a service like Mail2Web and pay money for a subscription service because the free service would mean drastic changes in how I do email
- or would I keep things as they are with syncing to Outlook offline at home, and then just keeping email and caledering as most seperate and away from the web at all.

I ended up choosing the first solution. Mainly because there are times when I do need to sync appointments with Brighthand and those do not come over when I just sync email. I am somewhat concerned about the personal information, but at this time, there does not seem to be an easier solution to that part of things.

What I do notice with this change however, is that it will take me another step away from the desktop. Because I am using Exchange and because my domain email has been so well, I could essentially get away with not going on my desktop for most of a week, unless I need to backup or do a file sync. I like not relying on the desktop and think that to some degree, this will be how many people will interact with mobile computers in the near future.

Of course, going to the mobile means that I have to be a lot more responsive with things such as inputting contacts into my address book. I will also have to consider asking all business contacts to send me a vCard of their addresses and vCal of any appointments. This will again have me pushing people to change the way that they do things, but this is something that will probbly be for the better for both parties.

So when do I get to sleep? Probably soon. I have a task list of things to do when I get into work (and even somewhat before then). The key now is not so much making my phone a replacement computer, but making it (once again) a life accessory or a personal digital assistant in a refined and connected sense of the word.
posted via Mo:Blog

Funny Story On the Way Home Last Night

as just typed on Google IM to LJ

So I leave work at 830 and am mad tired
I had just updated my RSS feeds before I left work and was waiting for the Metro and reading them
A few folks see my orange BB-looking device and stare a bit
I get onto the Metro and decide to stand since I was only going a few stops
I look to the left and there is a guy with a Treo 650, another with a Treo 700p or 700w and another with a BlackBerry 7100
All four of us look at each other and just smile cause we were all working/reading on our devices at the same time

...then I snickered ...mine looks better Image: Palm Treo 680 Copper, via Palm.com

Image: Palm Treo 680 Copper, via Palm.com

Consistent Themes

As I am learning more about user interface design and mobile-friendly application/web design, I am finding some consistent themes across these approaches that is not just influencing how I go about design, but also how I go about using technology.

For example, I have 'trained' myself to be more or less a mobile device person who filters their computing life thru mobile devices. From blogging and email to finance management, I have taken what I have learned about my thought patterns and made the changes in my life to mak them mobile. Now, this does not mean that the services, applications, or devices are there, but only that I am willing to explore what can be done. And if something can be done and it is more intuitive to my needs, then I do it.

Another aspect brought out by this focus on user design and interaction is my focus on the 'how does it benefit all' question over the 'what can it do' question. That is not to say that features are not important. They are in the respect that they open the door to what is possible. However, just beibg focused on the features leads on to value potential over purpose. Focusing on benefits factor, one can make calls about interactive features, workflows, and the enterity of product design in a way that serves people, not just sells to them.

A number of websites that I read daily have factored greatly into crafting this view.
- Read/WriteWeb
- Creating Passionate Users
- Adaptive Path

While these are not the only sites I read, they do highlight the field of user experience design along with the accessible/usable web (Web 2.0) in such a way that they have become frequent reads of mine.
posted via Mo:Blog

Not Good Enough for Some Things
Ok, so here is something worth blogging a bit about.

I have been just looking at a few emails. And while I do enjoy that I can look at just about any emails on my Treo, some of the ones that I either cannot or will not because of being on the Treo include:
- email forwards
- email forwards with extremely large picture attachments (think more than 1MB of pictures)
- links in emails that take you to Flash pages that do not have an alternate means of displaying content; they just tell you to download Flash
- emails without subject lines

That is all. But those are some of those things that make being mobile a bit more of a hassle than it needs to be.

Now sure, some of that is preference; but some of it is also the device that I am using. This phone is just about powerful enough to run Flash, but the browser does not support it. Sheesh.

I am more mad though that there was no alternate content though. At least that consideration could have been made.

As for email forwards; doesn't anyone clean all the junk off before resending them? I mean do I really need to know the email addresses of EVERY person who EVER READ this forward?

Apparently so, because it keeps happening.

Ok, off my soapbox for now, or at least long enough to charge my battery (physical and the phone one too).
posted via Mo:Blog

Another Late Nite
I am getting to post a bit later than I had wanted to. But its only because I had been on the phone with Trev and others for the past few hours. Tis good to know that the Treo 680 can stand my nightly call runs. It's already proven to be a nice email and text device, but the voice aspects of it continue to make the Treo 680 a refreshing choice for me.

So what to write about? Well, nothing really. If things go well, I shall be staying another few months at the job that I am at. After that, I have no idea, but God will provide as He always has whenever I have needed to be anywhere. It's pretty clear to me that more than just being at work, I have to be about a consistent and honest display of His heart there. What that means in its enterity I do not know, but as things unfold, I am sure to have much to pray and chat about.

Yea, that is about all. I have notes that I could blog about, but its late and the ice and snow on the ground give me little confidence about the morning commute. Then again, it could melt away tonite and there be no issue at all. Wouldn't that be some "God stuff" to write about?
posted via Mo:Blog

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Thinking About Decsions
I told my friend that I was tired and left her place not to long ago so that I could go to bed and get ready for my long Sunday. Instead of sleeping, I am up and fiddling with the Treo so that I can get on here and post. I have decsions to make on a few things, and here I am not sleeping (again) because I am thinking on them so much.

Sometimes I am confident of those things that the Lord has spoken and revealed to me, other times I am just awed and amazed that He would think of me. While I look towards those things that He has said, I wonder what my response then will be. And even now I sit in a place where I knew that I would be; and yet wonder more what my response will be.

Jesus, I trust you; Jesus, I trust you; Holy Spirit, clear my heart and mind to hear you clearly.

Sometimes I wonder about somethings too much until they become a sum of time and things. What shall I do Lord, I do not know where it is that I shall go with what all you have given me...
posted via Mo:Blog

Go Mobile, Earn a Bit of Cash

Now, you know I am mobile. And usually speaking, being mobile is a case of more things being taken out of my wallet ($$$) than being put into it. But there has been a program that I have been doing for the past month and its nearly obstrucive and therefore I feel comfortable in recommending it to you as something that will help out folks and companies, as well as put some extra cash in your pocket. Here is a chunk of a posting about it from MoDaCo:
Image: M:Metrics graphic

...What is Smart M:Panel?
Smart M:Panel is an influential new research panel created by M:Metrics to measure Windows Mobile Smartphone / Symbian smartphone / Pocket PC / Palm feature usage. Being a panelist is easy and safe! Research software, completely transparent to the end user, automatically measures mobile phone activity, eliminating the need to fill out detailed surveys each month.

What's in it for me?
CASH! smile.gif When you install the Smart M:Panel software to your device, and after the application has made it's first upload of data, M:Metrics send you a cheque for Â£15 (UK) or $15 (USA)! But it doesn't stop there... as long as you keep the application installed, you will earn Â£5 (UK) or $5 (USA) per month, paid by cheque every 6 months.

As if that isn't enough, every active participant will be entered into a sweepstake to win great prizes (we've already given away a huge flat screen TV to a USA based MoDaCo member from our last recruitment)!

There's more... once you have signed up to the panel, you can start referring others, and we are in the process of lining up some really great prizes for the best referrers! To sign up panelists and have them credited to you, simply use your unique referral link: You must be logged in to MoDaCo to retrieve you referral link. - easy! biggrin.gif

Finally, by agreeing to have your activity measured, you'll be inputting valuable data into the development of future products and services. The next device you buy may have been designed in a particular way due to the company knowing how YOU use your device... now that's cool...

Read the rest of the posting on how to sign up and get all of the terms and conditions information.

It's quite cool honestly. And works well whether you are like me and on your mobile device all the time, or only once in a blue moon. Click here to get started and let them know that I sent you :)

Friday, February 09, 2007

More on My Faith's Dressing
Was talking to my aunt last night and she asked me what is one of the things that I have learned in this job. I mentioned that I noticed how my attitude seems to spread. Whether good or bad, my attitude seems to trigger things around me.

She brought my attention to the scripture about being a light (Matt 5:14-16) and its seems very apt to me in a lot of places. When I can walk and talk with God in front of me, things change towards His will and glory.

Here's hoping that I can remain in the mindset that I have to be clothed in Him all rhe time, so that its not me people see, but the effect of Christ on a place is noticed - and hopefully someone is made to hear His voice.
posted via Mo:Blog

So Much For Sleep (Yet)
I was going to bed. No, really, I was. Then I started to read the RSS feeds that I did not read on my way home - was in a good convo with a co-worker on the first train, and then the battery was dead the rest of the ride anyways.

But anyways, there was a lot of good content in my feed list, but I did come to the realization that I do not so much as "browser" the Internet as much as it is that I "consume" it. I read a lot of postings from various news and blog sites thoughout the day, and then read even more to and from work. I find it amazing that I take in so much information and that it comes out in its various ways.

Now for the fun part of being mobile enabled - putting this dang thing down so that I can get 6ish hours of sleep.
posted via Mo:Blog

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Email, Phones and Wanderings
I am writing this one while tired and having spent a lot of energy at work mentally the past two days. Glad that some of it is out of the way, yes. But at the same time, I know that this is just a case of more of normal.

Last night I started thinking about using a hosted Exchange solution for my email/calendaring needs. Because I am largely trying to get away from using the desktop, having a web accessible calendar is something that appeals to me. If there was some way to shoot things off to friends whenever I would have things scheduled that would be even better as just a means of accountability.

All of that thinking last night took me to the site Mail2Web (pardon if that is the wrong link, I am doing this from memory). Basically, I would be able to get a hosted email/calending solution that I would be able to sync my phone to. The other benefit is that I would be able to use "push" email, instead of always going to VersaMail/Gmail/Yahoo and pulling the email. It is something that I am really looking to consider as I can see that being mobile does mean that a web based personal info management solution is something to take more seriously.

Of course, I can go back to no phone, and just using a pen and paper, but then many more folks will be mad that I never call or write :)

Thought of the day:
Lord, the push in my heart is to go follow my dream. But if it is not time for me to move yet, then moving early will be putting myself in a position where your grace was not meant to cover me. Make clear the steps to take Lord, and I will go. But if you don't speak, I shall not be ashamed to stay and glorify you as well.

Now, here's hoping that using the keyboard on this new Treo isn't the reason for the battery drain being so major today. Because that would suck to have to thumb out all of these posts :-)
posted via Mo:Blog

Poem: The Computer Age by B. Morr

This was a poem done by B. Morr from HCR. Check out his site to give him thanks directly.

It's a new millennium / it's a new day / a new age
Computers used in running this spiritual crusade

My mainframe? / I must tame the flesh / My drives feel the stress
Instant messaging a message from the Text and yes

God needs to override your hard drive
He sees hidden ghost files that shouldn't be floating in your profile

Satan's steadily hacking the system / lacking the vision
That he was never meant to have omniscience and infinite wisdom

Still he does his best work / through file corruption of your network
And if you're ignorant to this then you can get hurt

However / to get saved Godâ€™s gotta hit control "S"
And then His spirit defrags your soul, yes

It's not you but He who'll freely choose
To open your heart and download Himself on your CPU

Fear God but no man / search engine His whole plan
And your faith will debug your whole enitre program

But you got that junk on your screen get it off there
You'll mess around and lose your software cause of lost prayer

See anyone not living in Christ is lost
You gotta stay in the Word like Microsoft

God's Word is the format that it is better to get
Your files can get corrupted tryna edit the text

And watch your casual / file sharing habits, too
Cause two devices cannot co-op unless they be compatible

Got my eyes on the high calling through the rough stage
But with God as the OS there’s no need for upgrade

Labels: poem

A Late Night Slew of Thoughts

I used to think that there was a bit of an issue with the fact that I would be up at this late hour (quarter to 2am as I am writing this line now). I thought that it was a case of me just being a night owl. And to some degree, I am right. I do like the late night as I get in those modes then when I can just get into a rhythm and just create and do things that the rest of the day had not afforded. I thought that until I read some articles the past few days, and then again when I picked received a new book that I had ordered. Basically, my passions do not match up with what I do, and I take it out by not getting sleep just to get those passionate energies out.

By no means am I thinking that its right for me to be up this late any more, but I am questioning what is the right job to be in considering this utter spinning of energy and desire for God's stuff at this later hour.

I know that one part of me is quite disappointed at the state of the business world that I am in. I don't like the focus on the bottom line ($$$) over enablement and community development. I do not like that what could be so simple as a window/door - the web browser - is so fragmented that being creative requires more than just time and practice, but the knowledge of complex formulas that further dilute the pot of what's usable and accessible. A good part of me does not like the business process...

But then I get those reasons to smile. Like looking at MMM a few hours ago made me smile. The site is so simple, and yet effective. I am very happy that it is meeting the need for some people out there (at least those that email me that I know about). I am grateful for my new phone, despite the phone bill I just paid, the rent that I am about to pay, and the other bills that just linger. I want to believe that it is all me and trying to better manage my monies, but In know that God wouldn't allow me to be in a place lest his graces are already in place to uphold me. This mindset I have to keep in Christ Jesus - that He that started this work in me in (in 1997 my count, before eternity in His) will complete it to the point where I am perfected in Him. He's not taken His hands off of me despite what I have said, and yet I know for sure that its been nothing but the Spirit of God that has kept me to this point.

I just sent out this forward. I NEVER send out email forwards. Heck, most of them I never even read. But this one I did, and while the prayer was right on point, it was impressed on me to resend it out, but to do so after rewriting it. I hope that all who received it find it meeting just where they needed God to speak to them right now. I know that both versions did for me.

So what is next?
Breaking out into bed for one.
Taking a chance to believe that God is going to help me see the light in the holes that I am in.
And trying not to look so angry when frustrated at work - seems like its a bad thing I do that rubs off on other people.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

From my new Treo
I'll be back to posting soon. Just got a new Treo and getting it all squared away.
posted via Mo:Blog

Poem: It's Just Me

No, I am not taking anything back.
Just being honest.
Wanting my eyes to match my heart for a moment
And let for a finger create a comment
I wish that you were closer
And maybe then I wouldn't dream so much
But when I see those photos
I cannot help but want that time back again
To say what I didn't
Because it was too far
To ask what I didn't
Even though I am sure yes would have come
I would have done more given that time back
And yet
What I have been given is a request for one thing only
You see my heart
And now how patience is so hard for me
I do hope that you understand
Patience is something so hard to display
So hard to be
I struggle with it a lot
And how not to grab at the something easy
Because if it were up to me
This would be easy
Honest
My eyes would match the moments in my heart
And you would see me clearly
Maybe you wouldn't reconsider
But you would realize
That in the one picture taken
Me waving that smile around
It's just me.

Labels: poem

How I Do ItHow I Do It
Some people ask me how I do this mobile thing. Some of you see me with my phone(s) and ask a legitiate how is it that I am doing this mobile and Internet thing and being successful at it. Well, I'd say that it is because I am just wired to do so, but considering that I am largely wireless, that cannot flot very well. So what is it that I do and how does it get done.

Well, for one, I work as a web developer. I spend all day on a desktop computer and work. When I get home, the last thing that I want to do is spend more time in front of a a computer. When I want to read email or the latest news, I get on my sofa and roll into my blanket and read and reply from there (or from my dining room table if I need to type on the keyboard).

What about entertainment right? For me, I have not had my TV plugged in very much at my place. Reason being, I don't want to pay for cable since I am not home much, and when I am home, I don't want to spend that time watching TV. Though, I do miss sports and cartoons. Somehow, I need to figure that one out - I miss some shows a lot.

What about music? Well, that part I have not figured out. I still buy CDs, and then rip those to the desktop and transfer those tracks to my phone. I'd like to just straight purchase MP3s right to my phone, but until I get a new phone that can take at least an 8GB memory card. At that point things will be a lot of fun and I will probably have even less of a need for a desktop.

Concerning email:
Most of the time, I do emails here on my phone (Palm Treo). That is usualy because I am somewhere between at work or with friends. But there are those late night moments when I am cleaning the email off the mail server. Basically, this means that I am downloading email onto my desktop that I have probably already read on my phone. The reason for doing this lies completly with malfunctioning software. If it would delete the emails from the server as it should, I would not go thru this step and I would surely not even touch my desktop for most of the week.

Bills:
Yes, my bill is near that $100 point every month. That is because my phone does a lot of things. This was one of the concessions that I knew that I had to make. For me, this works. I don't think that it would work (or float) so easily if I had a wife/family. There are different considerations to take into account there. But for this mobile junkie, this cost is more than justified.

So that is how I do it. Now, if you are looking to do something similar with a laptop or phone and you need a hand getting setup, just let me know and I will be happy to help - I am a mobile device consultant too :-)
~ sent from Treo via Mo:Blog

Seasons of Joy and FaithSeasons of Joy and Faith
Ok, so this post has been a long time coming.. As it is that I am sitting in the car dealership waiting for my car to be finsihed being serviced, I am on one part reminded of the conversation had with the Seymore family on Saturday, and also of a movie that I watched with folks from Calvary Chapel Largo whom I chilled with in church and at a Super Bowl party yesterday. That is the idea of seasons. And for me, I look at the impending bills, the strains that I have every month it seems on finances, relationships, and dang near everything else, and I say that Lord, I do hope that the cold of winter does not stay too much longer.

Seasons:
A few things to mention that I told friends that I would post here concerning seasons.

Sometimes its not that we are not to have something that God wants for us, but that it might not be that season in which we are best able to receive it. Spring time is a time for mild blooming and planting, summer is a time when we are being sustained, fall is a harvest time, and then winter is that time when things in us develop underthe ground, outside of the sight of anyone but God and usually in a place where its most uncomfrotable for us.

I am not interested in pushing doctrine to people, I am more interested in connecting and making community possible. Whether that is Internet, email, text, or driving two hours to visit; the point is creating community and making the opportunity for someone to engage God because of the example that I am, not because I pushed them in between some walls and stained glass windows.

There is more that I know that I said and needed to write down, and I am sure that my orange-toting friend ;) will let me know what else I missed as she is good at coming half way in a convo. But that is where my thoughts are right now.

To answer a few questions:
I stil do write poetry;
I have not taught a Bible study in a few years
I enjoy people of every color and gender

There is so much more concerning my faith's dressing - the faith that I dress myself with if you will. But I don't know any more where I am going with this post. So until next post (in a few minutes LOL). Cya.
~ sent from Treo via Mo:Blog

CM In Charlotte

Ok, so I might not be able to go, but if you are in the area, check em out.

Image: Crossmovement and special guest in Charlotte on February 17th

Visit Crossmovement's website

Mobile Meanderings

While it is that I am pulling email off the server (per my nightly ritual), here are some mobile notes that were of interest to me today:
Image: smartphone from eWeek article

There was a post that I read that made a lot of sense in terms of the thinking that people do not really want to use applications on their smartphones and laptops that are always connected to a network. There has to be some ability for the application to not be online while you are working. Personally speaking, I prefer to use the online aspect of any app as a connecting feature, not a functional one unless you are in a browser. Even reading RSS feeds should be an offline event, triggering only streaming of podcasts and downloading of linked content only when connected. Read that entire post at Mobbu.
Image: smartphone from eWeek article

Some of you are looking at Windows Mobile phones (coolbeans). Google just released Google Maps for Windows Mobile devices today.. I use GM on my Palm OS Treo and love it. Who needs a GPS when all that you really need is to know the vicinity that you are in. About the only thing that I can say is missing is that I cannot search for someone directly out of my address book into Google Maps. That would be real integration and a really nice way to find out how most of you are doing :)
Image: smartphone from eWeek article

Another really neat smartphone post was done at eWeek talking about the evolution of the smartphone. I really just liked the images more than anything else, but to see the evolution in what works and what moves people is interesting. Read that article if you are interested.

A website that is making it fast up my charts is called Lifehacker. There are a lot of applicable techie posts there and a good deal of neat applications and how-to articles. I really do encourage you to make it a part of your daily reading as there is at least one or two nuggets worth keeping every day.

Lastly, email is done. I rarely get to mention too many folks here but Rob Fay has been a great guy in the months that I have gotten to know him. He's the kind of guy who makes me want to get around him a bit more and learn and apply user experience design as part of what I do. Kinda push that intersection of faith and technology further than where it is now ;)

Tis all for me. I am sure that I have enough email to keep me busy for another few minutes before the bed and I reconvene our meeting :)

Personal NirvannaPersonal Nirvanna
If you are readimg this blog, then there is a good chance that this post might not mean anything to you. But, if you think for a second that others usually see things in and of us clearer than we see of ourselves, then you just might find out why I am where I am.

Technology evangelist

A term that makes sense of the smaller levels of one who is onto technology and takes that to the point of telling others about it. But that word evangelist is where many time we miss it. Evangelizimg is not just an issue of telling people, it stretches into teaching, managing, innovating, exploring and above all sharing. Placing the woed 'evangelist' after technology makes then tech an issue of exploring and shaing innovative applications of technology with the hope and intent that adoption leads to more sharing.

I read a post and PDF today that totally showed me the reasons why I tick the way I do with technology. It is not an issue of just doing - else my job as a web developer would make me content. It is the intersection of all that I believe in regards to Jesus and meeting the needs of the 'least' with the capability and 'window opening' ability of personal/mobile computing. More than just wanting to sell you a Treo (as many of you have told me I have done), I want to sell you on the idea that mobile computing will improve the vitalty of ALL of your relationships.

Brash and sweeping as that last statement was. It does on make for an interesting issue for me - who hires technology evangelists and how does one hone a craft that is still being shaped?

With this knowledge today, working is one part fustration and another part 'too small' a step. God knows, and probably you did too. But to find out that I am to meet God at the intersection of faith and technology makes live a lot more of a wonderment, and less of a 'sure happiness.'

I do wonder how some friends will regard this news. And at the same time, how can I develop in my respective fields to finally be able to serve fully without fear of being under or over anyone's head.
~ sent from Treo via Mo:Blog

AntoineRJWright.com

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Lola and the Shoes

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Monday, February 26, 2007

Applications I'd Like to See {Improved]

Snow Day, Snow Thoughts

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Friday, February 23, 2007

To Buy or Not to Buy

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Worship of Victory - Revelation 19, 1 John 5:1-6

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

A New Skin: Grounded

Monday, February 19, 2007

The Mobile Lifestyle (part 2)

Sunday, February 18, 2007

The Arts, PW, and Treos

Friday, February 16, 2007

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Funny Story On the Way Home Last Night

Consistent Themes

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Go Mobile, Earn a Bit of Cash

Friday, February 09, 2007

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Poem: The Computer Age by B. Morr

A Late Night Slew of Thoughts

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Monday, February 05, 2007

Poem: It's Just Me

Friday, February 02, 2007

CM In Charlotte

Mobile Meanderings

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