AntoineRJWright.com

Poem: Sending Inspiration Your Way

2008-05-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

Those lips I dare not arouse
Those eyes I dare not espouse
Taste not
Touch not
Only remind myself that there is something over there worth more
Tear myself from the page just for a second longer
Before my longings for bits and bytes turn surreal
And then I inspire another moment
To steal away on my knees
Reminded of the better passion
Those lips that did respond
Those eyes that did not stare
Touched me even though I was not there
I tasted every word as my own
For me
He took all that to inspire me

Poem: Polar Panda Dances

2008-05-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

Find me a polar opposite
Where the ends meet in chewed leaves and strength
Near the place where the sun meets my toes
And we dance in the east, far from history's guess
Find me hugging a panda
Where the nights and days are long and hugged
Near the place where hairy meets smiles
And we dance in the forest, where electronic bits plant our music.

From Innovation to Lifestyle

2008-05-07T10:00:00.001-04:00

Looking at my portfolio I am starting to finally realize that there is a pattern to things that is kind of neat, but also has made for some clarity in a few areas recently. One thing is that I have moved away from abstract web design to more functional designs. But the more important one is that I've moved from just innovating for the sake of it to actively making functional innovation a part of my lifestyle.

Now, when I say innovation being functional, I mean more than just having the shiny and new because its shiny and new. I mean taking advantage of the current technology in such a way that my life and the lives of those around me is enriched when they engage with me.

When I started doing web design, it was just a matter of learning; seeing what I could learn and apply to get the message of Christ out online in ways that were distinctive yet effective. And as the web and web building tools matured, so have I. The goal being the same, but now the innovations push beyond just doing to actually creating the place for innovation to change my life and the lives of those around me.

In the MMM Mobile Experiment Report I see this very clearly. There is almost no need for someone living in the US to have any need of a mobile device to access the web. For the most part, terminals are large and cheap enough that nearly anyone can have some type of access somewhere. There is even less of a need for someone to carry a web server around with them. These are things that while possible, to do speaks towards the innovation that our society has allowed to happen.

But I want it to go past that. What happens when mobile access is an issue of team building and discipleship. What happens when people who were once next door and doing ministry are now separated by "the pond." How does one get over the hurdle of language and cultural differences that affluence and technology instantly cause. These are questions that would seem removed from lifestyle, but for me they are becoming things that I address in my everyday use and push of web and mobile.

The more interesting thing in looking at that portfolio is how I've grown to include more people in sharing those things that are innovative, and taking more advantages to share pieces of the character of Christ in all of those areas. The price I sometimes pay for this innovation is loneliness; but every once and a while there is someone whose life is enriched directly or indirectly because I took a step out of my box to see what lies beyond the horizon. The future holds a lot, and this kind of exploration and discovery of what it means to connect with one another seems to be what innovation meeting lifestyle is all about.

Related Articles:

MMM Mobile Experiment Report: Part One (Mobile Ministry Magazine)
MMM Mobile Experiment Report: Part Two (Mobile Ministry Magazine)
The Future of Biblical Studies and Technological Tools (Bible Studies and Technological Tools)
How Nokia Users Drive Innovation
Jaiku conversation about Nokia UX document

Coffeehouse Alone

2008-05-05T21:13:00.001-04:00

There is this rule it seems about coffeehouses here, after a certain point in the day they get from being places of laptops and workers, to places where hands and hugs take in the aroma. No biggie for most people, but in sitting at a usual spot, its a pang that hit kind of hard a few minutes ago. And spiced chai tea lattes just don't seem to make things alright.

Having had a few of these moments in the past months, I think I can adjust to the moving from place to place avoiding the aroma for just a bit longer. But like anything, the smell eventually gets to your nose and it has to be addressed. Haven't found one worth spending more than a half a cup of coffee with though.

Its all about the smell. I was telling someone this weekend that attraction comes with nice smells. Other than some artifical jaunts, I have not smelled anything attractive since being down here. I would assume that I am not in the right coffeehouses, and some could argue that with me. But my is the scene such the Starbucks moment - losts of money for lots of flair but the taste is not worth the affair.

I should probably stop thinking about this and continue to sip my chai tea latte. I enjoy these on Mondays rather than other days because of their smooth and robust flavor. Its not one that begs to be taken care of, but a smell that invites conversation.

Would this prose end with someone to take the last sip from my cup; or in my finishing yet another Monday find peace in the moon and stars once again, instead of the flavor of the moment.

Where Are Ya

2008-05-04T21:59:00.003-04:00

Here and there, writing a big review about the MMM Mobile Experiment, and just taking in people in the area. What else should I be doing...

Then again, I could be here again ;)

Experiments and Mobile

2008-05-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

I am considering this post to be in one part an experiment. Blogger has released a new feature called scheduled posting where you can write a post and then schedule it to automatically post on a future date and time. I am starting this a bit before 10am and will just see how it rolls out. This is a feature that I've wanted for sometime, and it brings some value back into Blogger for me as a publishing platform. That being said, I still am looking at moving on to something a bit more mobile...

For the last week I have been doing an experiment on MMM where I am using Nokia's Mobile Web Server as a blogging and communications platform. For MMM, its a nice idea, but something that needs a bit more refinement. For me though, it could be something worthwhile to do considering all the other ways that I connect with people while connected/online.

Basically, I would be archiving all that I do here and going to use the MWS only. There would be a page here that lists the badge to the MWS as well as archives of the Blogger posts, and then the connect page (because it took so long to build and refine that, I am not getting rid of it). For me, it makes me very mobile once again; for you, well, depending on whom you are, there becomes a better way for my website to be a place of personal musings and such.

Unfortunately, this is not something that I can do right now. The mobile device that I have while good for this, lacks some hardware abilities that would make such a move easier. Considering also that I am a nut about connectivity, I would want to make sure that a few other things are settled. That being said, this is something under heavy consideration and I am most likely going that route in a non-experimental mode.

In talking to my friend till 2am last night, we got back on that subject of being the kind of church that is distinctive; I see what I have done with MMM over the last week, and what I will do here as an enabler into that. Whether that leads more people to Christ or not I don't know. But in terms of those things mobile and connecting, I am doing what I am designed to do, tripping all the way to some end that God has planned. I don't know His plan, only that I am in it and subject to it. That makes it fun to try stuff like this, and then respond to the world around me in a manner that speaks like the knowledge of Him that has been written on our hearts.

Poem: Looking for a Change in Tempo

2008-05-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

Suffering from another storm of melancholy melodies
I stared long enough into the wind to see a promise
The songstress’ heart towards happier times has me questioning trust
And dare as it may the sun makes its play
Only to reassure me that I need better beats and rhythm
The musings of this humming bird found me as I lay
Darkened overtones being replaced by salsa
Yet the promise of a dance partner seems to me overwhelming as I watch the finished storms of others
Apparently this is my take for the breeze
To be content in a melody such as this
To stare into the eyes of an impending summer
To no longer have to apologize for feeling like this

Poem: Living Scratchpad

2008-04-30T10:00:00.001-04:00

Such is this truth of a man that walks behind you
The aspects of your heart that you display are so You
So true that I can do nothing apart from You
So then what was that thing of me trying to shine through
I was clear and present and forward and through
And yet the thing was not me but they wanted You
Even the pastorate came though so clear with words to
Display that there is only favor when God shines through.

How then is it that I can profess your name
They aren’t ready for the failing of the Internet shame
The engagement name
The hearts toyed with bereft of your fame
I am not strong enough to hold up your name
You name, your claim that I am designed to maintain
That it will always be you and not me displayed in pain.

They never even saw the eraser take place
The marks, the blemishes you continue to displace
You have made sure to misplace any memory of my bad takes
So that a Savior so sweet would be my life’s embrace
And yet still, I fall, less than filled in leaving this place
Because in spite of your goodness I’ve left this race
An older face that should be better hewn
Or a musical place that I should resume
I am yet over the moon wanting to reflect thine face
But stand here as just a living scratchpad with your blood drawing in my place.

Originally written 4/4/08

Poem: Backwards Goes This Dream

2008-04-29T16:28:00.002-04:00

Went to sleep the other night
Thought I saw you right next to me
Swore up and down that you were right there
With your head on my shoulder
Lying with me awaiting the sunlight.

Turned my head to take in the sight
Knew at that second it was something that couldn’t be
Swore up and down that I felt you near
Felling your heartbeat in step with my own
Breathing deeply to engage the night.

Passing by another dream held tight
Figured that if I wrote this before you came you’d believe me
Swore up and down that I knew your name
Holding your hand in spite of feeling nothing
Waiting to see the faith of your birth come to light.

Originally created as a guest post for Space and Time

What the Duck?

2008-04-28T22:07:00.002-04:00

Given my lack of posting here since the MMM Mobile Experiment started, this would seem to be a very appropriate comic...

Saw this comic when I was looking at his blog speaking about his getting of an Nokia N95 8GB to replace his iPhone. Interesting choice on the switch, but the comic was better in that I seem to be moving into that 3rd frame pretty quickly LOL.

Carnival of the Mobilists 121

2008-04-28T13:08:00.001-04:00

The 121st Carnival of the Mobilists is now up at 3-Lib. Solid entries this week from the mobile/mobile web sphere.

Sony mylo COM-2 Review at Brighthand

2008-04-25T14:17:00.002-04:00

Outside of the Flickr image error a while back, rocking with the Sony mylo COM-2 was neat. I learned a bit more about mobile computing and specifically how I use it. And can say that there is a place for this type of device, once everyone figures out that user interface/user experience end of things. Nevertheless, the mylo COM-2 gets a vote of confidence in my book. See the review at Brighthand I wrote and check it for yourself.

Gone Mobile (For A While)

2008-04-23T13:00:00.000-04:00

Just a note that I might be taking a leave from blogging here for a bit. I'm an going to be running a week-long experiment with Nokia's Mobile Web Server on my N75 where I will be running Mobile Ministry Magazine completely from my mobile device - literally the phone will play the role of a web server...

That basically means that if you can get there, then you can read what will be going on. Depending on things, I might open it up to folks that visit here and just consolidate things for a bit. Who knows. I'll be on Jaiku from time to time, so between there and everything else noted on the Connect page, you can get some updates if you want to know what's going on with me.

Read the post at Mobile Ministry Magazine for log-in credentials to the MMM Mobile Experiment.

Where in the World Puzzle at Break the Vault

2008-04-21T14:56:00.001-04:00

Ok, I am horrible for not writing on this earlier,. But a friend of mine who got me into the web writing game has a site called Break the Vault and a ton of cool games with various cash prizes. The latest one is a geography-based puzzle with a $250 cash prize to the first person who can solve the game. Ok, stop reading and get over there and win something.

read more | digg story

Discovering A Niche

2008-04-21T12:39:00.004-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Walking around life with ides of how to do things better for yourself or others puts most people in a quandry that's left unexplored. We see and wonder, yet very few take that steps towards actually realizing that potential that lies within. Then, there are those, we call them innovators after some point and time, who throw caution to the wind and become some kind of idea towards that thing we all have wanted to explore. I'm on this road, and its kinda interesting because I don't know where its leading.

In speaking with a friend yesterday, she remarked how some years ago she scoffed at the fact that I was saying how she'd one day be using a PDA. She looked at me as one of those people to say "that's for you, but not something that I'd ever get into."

This past week she purchased a Palm Centro on AT&T. One of many people to have told me over the past months that a place that they've not seem themselves they are now in.

Of course, in all of this, I am constantly pushing myself past the things that I normally think about. I waver between using a Nokia N800 Internet Tablet and pushing for the N95 because of its TV-Out functionality. Instead of wanting to make "church" the center of my Christian life, I drive all over Charlotte (and wherever else my dwindling budget can take me) to interact with people within the Christian Body that have something that I should be living with and hearing.

I live in this niche of those who are constantly pushing forward. That group of people who realize that there is more to life than where I am, and push past it (because sitting still is a worse moment than has ever been recorded). I thrive on that learning of what it is that makes me tick, and then pull myself around to see that reality is worse than what it should be.

I'm like the person who is constantly trying to bend reality into a shape where I see things and can finally settle down. But for people like me, we don't settle. We continue to push further and further still. Only realizing before the end that it was our niche all along to push the boundaries of something, so that there's room under the umbrella for the next great person to lead people to something that was always clearly seen.

Related Articles:

Poem: Internal Observations

2008-04-20T14:30:00.000-04:00

Trying to get past the point where I wallow in my sorrow
Happens to be that same point where I notice I am hollow
Seeking some measure of peace while watching the things others follow
It seems that my shame is only dismissed in a forgotten tomorrow
Therefore I burrow into the depths of my strain
Making sure to note every semblance of pain
Stumbling into speed bumps of pain
Until I find my life measured in His death's gain
I strain to understand the arrows that impede
The reasons I am rebuffed it seems from happiness indeed
The problems that mount seem insurmountable to heed
And yet I stand watching until my life blooms its leaves.

Poem: Limerick Interplay

2008-04-19T00:04:00.004-04:00

Ask not the night where I come to write by your light
I only wish to take flight in the comfort of your arms tight
And move slowly into the place where dreams embrace
And taste each moment that a memory's face could only chase
Until our hands meet in a never night by the hands' bright.

~ originally posted at Brighthand

Desperation? No, Trust

2008-04-17T11:08:00.003-04:00

I went to a really good business meeting this morning. I met a number of people who are (for lack of better terms) doing some really good things in Charlotte and beyond. This was a meeting that I was recommended to go to by a few folks from my church, and while I am glad to go, it was just another one of those moments where I looked around and knew that I was in the mist of greatness, but felt so small to the task of following thru towards meeting God's heart for me. If you will, my integrity has been pulled in two directions, Desperation and Trust; and my faith has been getting beat on.

Many people know Desperation. Its that side where you have nothing but three walls around you and whatever is in your hands is your only way you. You can only see out, because success only looks like getting out from the hole that you are in. Since some issues at the beginning of the year, I've been thrown back into that corner and have had little response to the beating that I've taken. Not knowing what to do and being to tired to do anything have made me in this spot where I have nothing left but what's in my hands to figure out this life with. It's scary.

Then there's that side that also has been taking a beating on my heart in the same period, Trust. Trust is that measure of faith we can ascribe to God, a person, or a moment where its literally a dream that we year to realize and place some type of positive expectation towards. I learned last year that I have to Trust God, and yet I find myself in that corner again where I don't know how. My only guide has been this stubborn faith that somehow, God has equipped me for this journey, and I am doing what I am built to do. In that meeting, I met some folks who truly Trust God with their businesses and lives. My faith has been knocked so much it felt like I was in strange company.

That's kinda why I am writing this now. Inner-Linked is the new endeavor that I am placing my energies towards, and yet I don't know how it is supposed to turn out. I know what I have the ability to do, and where I'd love to see people be. But at this moment, I am in a fickle because I also have to address the lack of what's in my hands and pocket.

As I left the meeting I sensed in me a chance to start worrying more. I don't know how a few thing will pan out before the end of the month. I drove and thought about it. I can choose Desperation or Trust; but those are both my call to make. I am choosing Trust because that's the only place where I have some company in faith. That's not to say I am not in that corner though.

Get Out And Play

2008-04-15T12:35:00.002-04:00

I can be like my latest editorial at Brighthand and just be connected with mobile software on my Nokia N75, or I can Get Out and Play and really take things to new levels. Nokia's new N-Gage campaign site pays homage to the classic game Snake and pretty much makes me wanna get out and have some fun :)

Nokia's Get Out and Play Website
Moving to S60: 3erd Party Applications (Brighthand)

Reflecting on An Increasingly Mobile Life

2008-04-15T10:18:00.003-04:00

I cannot speak for pretty much anyone that I know in my immediate vicinity, but I tend to be very much the mobile nomad spoken of in an article at The Economist. Its not that I am a jet-setter and travel the world (yet), but I am a person who thrives on interacting with people. Mobile and web based technologies enable this to happen for me more and more, and frankly, I am enjoying where it is taking me.

But it is not just the fact that I can go around and engage with people that makes the mobile life interesting. I am also having to adjust my sleep/eating patterns a bit more (almost going back to how I was in college, albeit healthier). And then I have that really big aspect of making sure that I shut down and leave tech alone at times to just live. Its a different kind of challenge, and something that I believe that many other people are experiencing/will experience as mobile technology becomes a viable alternative towards the desk-set nature of many jobs.

Another aspect of being mobile that I enjoy is that of creativity. I've had a lot of opportunity to be creative either in coming up with solutions towards something I am working on, or creating a new means to be creative outside of technology. Its like being mobile allows for my creative juices to flow a bit more in the arts, and this is allowing me to reclaim parts of me that have been lost for the better part of the last decade.

Its not all fun though. I am finding that being mobile has a certain set of personal disciplines that are just not present in many other aspects of living. Things such as making sure that I am eating right, bills are being paid on time, and documenting various meetings, are those things that being mobile means that I have to pay a good bit more attention to. If you will, I am not just a worker, but the boss, the HR department, and the secretary. There is a challenge to boundaries that has to be dealt with everyday and convincingly. While I'm hoping for some software to help in some of those areas, much of this is behavior and so I'll live and adjust.

But I think that's why I enjoy this part of life. Its very challenging, and in the kind of way that will make or break who I am for a while longer. I am not just interacting with people offline, I am interfacing and connecting them. With those online there is a lot of knowledge-sharing that is happening; a sharing of community, experiences, and just the fun things of life. Being mobile has opened me to more than that being a possibility, but a livable reality.

When you think about it, its not much different than other times in human history when paradigm shifts happened. It just happens that in this one, I am a part of things and utterly enjoying it.

Related Articles:

Only a Bit for Now

2008-04-14T13:59:00.002-04:00

I'm still wading through RSS feeds and emails, so please don't hold it against me that the pics from my birthday trip to the beach aren't up. There is one I will share though.

Kinda neat to be like Demolition Man and do the shells things ain't it, LOL.

Slow But Coming Along

2008-04-10T17:31:00.001-04:00

I write this as I sit at a cafe that I normally come to. This is a place where money flows a bit freer than some other places I go to, but I come here to see how people use mobile technology in various forms.

There are more people here with smartphones that those without. I have seen a Centro, a few Blackberries, a few BlackJacks, and an HTC Tilt. There are a few Apple notebooks and a Dell. More people are either in conversation, and the smartphones sit on a table, or by themselves with some type of productivity going on.

Its a nice day today. After work hours, and so I am seeing people who are mor or less just winding down on their days as they are here. The interesting thing is in their use of this tech. It fits. Outside of myself, there's no one that is as techie that I can discern. Ok, so I do have a bluetooth keyboard, Internet Tablet, and my phone is beside me. I also have the Sony Mylo COM-2 as I am checking it out still for my upcoming review.

I know that I push things; but its good to see that people are taking some ownership of how they use tech. There's only one conversation within earshot that sounds anything like work. For the most part, it seems that people are living their lives and letting tech lie.

Its a nice lesson for me; but a two-sided one. I see where mobile tech could be better used, and where it really needs to just be there when needed.

Its a nice day today. AND there's a 15 week old baby behind me. I think I shall enjoy watching my tech sit as just a participant of life around me.

Sony mylo COM-2 on Google Talk really edited

2008-04-09T21:39:00.008-04:00

And this is what happens when before a review is posted I have to make a mad dash to a cafe to use some wi-fi to snap some pictures. It was kind neat really. Internet Tablet to send email to editor, mylo COM-2 playing on Google Talk, and my phone snapping pics and uploading them to Flickr. Totally mobile, but very hastily done on my end. Such is the fun of this mobile journalist.

Make Mobile Innovation Relevant to Everyone, Even the Normob

2008-04-06T21:04:00.004-04:00

This is my latest editorial now published at Brighthand, and some of you can probably attest to being something I probably should have written a long time ago. In this one I speak about the kind of innovation that the normob - normal mobile user - really wants in their device. And the truth of the matter is, the last thing they want is new features in the device. Here's a snippet:

...Now I'm well aware that some people are willing to pay for gadgets at the top edge of the mobile world and tweak and play with them, but when those products comes down in price, or those features come into lower-ranged devices, the usability bugs should be worked out, the documentation should be solid, and customer service professionals should be well knowledgeable of these features...

Take a read of the entire article at Brighthand

So what do you say. Wouldn't you rather have something besides a new and shiny device be talked about as new and decent in mobile devices?

Related Stories:

How Many of Your Family/Friends Use Mobile Apps at SMSTextNews
Guerrilla Mobile Evangelism at SMSTextNews
Normob.com

Now, Asking for A New Phone Is Fun

2008-04-06T14:20:00.001-04:00

Last night, I spent some of the midnight oil downloading and playing some with Nokia's Mobile Web server. A really interesting piece of software, it is basically hosting a website from your phone. I started getting some ideas about how to take advantage of it, but ended up reflecting on my phone and how much its really getting pushed to the limits.

That was just the tip of the iceberg, I also downloaded Opera Mini (a mobile web browser) to my phone. I had forgotten how much I liked it as I had some trouble in downloading it directly to my phone. Installing from my PC though was a snap, and in no time was I enjoying the speed links and bookmarks that I had saved into my MyOpera account (see, connect).

Just a note, those of you who want a solid web browser really should check out Opera Mini. Its as good, and in some respects better than what you've seen the iPhone's Safari browser do. That, and if you have a mobile web plan that has a limit, it helps keep you there by making the pages a whole lot smaller than what they normaly are. Its a good download, and free.

Then I also have Jaiku's mobile application running on my phone. I really like the microbloggin from the phone. That and the presence aspect is really great. On the desktop, Jaiku is great at the RSS feeds that come into it from myself and other contacts. Basically, I stay quite connected no matter what device I am on because of Jaiku.

I also have an application called Emoze. For those of you who'd like to keep up with your email, but not always answer it immediately, Emoze is a solid application. I use Emoze to be the connection to my work at Brighthand and its great in that for that Microsoft Exchange account, I am able to keep contact, calendar, and email all connected. If it wasn't for this application, I'd probably be back to my Treo.

In addition, I have a program called i-nigma that is a QR code reader (that funky barcode on this site), a Bible reader and a few Bibles, and Google Maps. Seriously, this phone is very well used every minute that I am awake.

But that kinda brings me to the point of writing this post. Its not to say that I want another phone. I am using the mess out of this one. I don't have stability issues, but I do get it where some applications will cut off in the background because of another application needing the memory. As much as my N75 is a smartphone, it is also a light one. I am just pushing it to the max to see just how mobile a person can be.

That all being said, with how much I am using my mobile devices, the N800 and N75, I look forward to what is happening in mobile tech. You can just see in the apps that I talked about above that there is a common ream of connectivity and sharing that happens. But the center is a device and my personal social network. I think Nokia sees this, and offers devices and services that will enable this to be a part of your life soon as well.

AntoineRJWright.com

Poem: Sending Inspiration Your Way

Poem: Polar Panda Dances

From Innovation to Lifestyle

Coffeehouse Alone

Where Are Ya

Experiments and Mobile

Poem: Looking for a Change in Tempo

Poem: Living Scratchpad

Poem: Backwards Goes This Dream

What the Duck?

Carnival of the Mobilists 121

Sony mylo COM-2 Review at Brighthand

Gone Mobile (For A While)

Where in the World Puzzle at Break the Vault

Discovering A Niche

Poem: Internal Observations

Poem: Limerick Interplay

Desperation? No, Trust

Get Out And Play

Reflecting on An Increasingly Mobile Life

Only a Bit for Now

Slow But Coming Along

Sony mylo COM-2 on Google Talk *really edited*

Make Mobile Innovation Relevant to Everyone, Even the Normob

Now, Asking for A New Phone Is Fun

Sony mylo COM-2 on Google Talk really edited