Facebook seems to either sparking a trend or is at least on the beginning of one. It is the creation of a framework for apps. I suppose Ning and some others; the gadget frameworks (Google, Yahoo, Mac, Vista); and the start pages (Netvibes, Pageflakes) might be the beginning of this. However, Facebook has really seemed to spark some energy. Thomas Power of Ecademy made a comment (on Facebook) that it was kind of like a videogame for adults. It at least seems to be more of an adult version of MySpace. I cannot tell if Facebook is just the darling of the moment or whether it has legs. But for the moment it is definitely capitalizing on a trend.
I am writing this on my Cingular 8525 aka as the HTC Hermes. It is kind of interesting. Might not be too bad if I can actually figure out how to not run the battery down.
It is a SmartPhone so it is running MS Mobile (nobody is perfect ). I am running the mobile TypePad blogging app. Given that the form factor is not too big, the slide out is not bad. Like all of the keyboards like this it is helpful to have small fingers. Enough for now, need to find the battery charger.
Interesting, I was poking around the environment variables while in iterm, and found that they refer to powerpc as machine-type, etc. seems a little odd — is it iterm or Apple that is defining this?!?
I have had Vonage for a few year now and it has been Ok. But I am hearing about some issues they are having (stock, patent infringements, etc.) and I was thinking of moving elsewhere. Phone number mobility is important to me as is quality, uptime, etc.
I just got an Apple MacBook (13" Black) after a lengthy hiatus from using Macs — what are the programs and/or gadgets that make the most sense to use — and have. I think that I need a good mouse and keyboard. Any ideas? What are some of the best utilities?
It seems to be that there is the death of the Renaissance Man. If you are skilled in many areas it seems much harder to get a job these days. Searching through a job board does not do it. Unless you get so vague that you get thousands of items to mull your way through.
Matt Mower and I have been discussing this lately, and it is getting quite frustrating — Maybe we should jump to the Startup we have been talking about (Metaxio).
We are two great guys that seem to be languishing away to oblivion.
It seems looking into the past can give us some perspective on the future. I guess I might be writing this more for myself than for others. Anyway, might as well get some of the facts and figures out of the way. Born in London, Ontario, Canada, November 4, 1963 (6 weeks premature) to British parents (dad: English, mom: Welsh). Age: 42 (now, not then). Nearly did not make it, etc.
With parents and younger sister in the Anglican mission field (Father was/is ordained Anglican/Episcopal Priest) in Mexico and Central America until about 4 years old. Came to the US (Los Angeles), moved to Indiana (God only knows why). Lived in Indiana from about 6 years old to 15 years old. Moved quite a bit until I was in my 20s. Moved to Santa Clara while in high school. I have been in SF Bay Area ever since (Santa Clara, San Jose, and then Napa, CA since 2001).
When we moved to Santa Clara, I ended up going to all boy Bellarmine Prep (High School) in San Jose from 10th to 12th grade (1982). I went to Santa Clara University (where my father taught) — While I was not very thrilled with Bellarmine, both Bellarmine and SCU were outstanding Jesuit schools. While I started at SCU to get a Computer Science degree, I ended up getting a BA in History degree with a lot of computer science courses (1986). After a few years, I ended up going to San Jose State University (1988) for my MS in Cybernetic Systems (1992) (ironically from the Anthropology and Cybernetic Systems department). About 2 years later, I started a Ph.D. at University of Hull in the UK while living in Napa. In retrospect, maybe not the brightest thing I ever did. I defended in November of 1997, and graduated February of 1998 from the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside. Lincoln School of Management for short. My PhD was essentially in Systems Thinking and Human Values.
I got married in September of 1986 (for an update on this, see here). Worked in the tech industry in various roles for a long while (largely until I started on the PhD). Some of the places were: Olivetti ATC, Sun Microsystems, Frame Technology, Verity, Autodesk, IDG (technology writer). I was also starting to do a little OD (organizational development) and that eventually led to me doing the doctorate. My father is an expert in human values, and I worked with him at various times over the years. In 1994, we started Values Technology which has been seriously up and down over the last twelve years (I am not currently working for VT). Since I was technology savvy, and a growing expert in the area of values, I consulted and also steered the technology development. When I was not working on the technology I designed large scale interventions for values-based OD. The last time I left I was considered chief architect (bridging technology and values). I still advise my dad and company. Other than this stuff, I have taught at the post graduate level — mostly in the area of leadership development.
Systems thinking and values, two areas, that other than history and technology, have fascinated me. I might add document analysis, but that really is an offshoot of the others. Since high school I had been fascinated by the ways in which values and meaning could be pulled from documents. Metaxio is a current attempt to make this more accessible to others.
In 1999 and 2001, my wife and I had a boy and twin girls — as with most fathers, they are my pride and joy.
Well, that is probably enough for this entry. It sets up the entries to follow . I am hoping there is a point to all of this!
I might find myself blogging more on privacy, security and other stuff. I have always had an interest in this. But now, my girlfriend, Svea has just started a MS IA at Norwich University (online degree). And my amigo, Matt, has been working for PAOGA which focuses on helping individuals to maintain control of their privacy but letting the ‘right’ people access the ‘right’ stuff.
Matt some interesting things to say on translucence, privacy and identity management. It is a bit of a long post, but worth it, you can fins it here.
I suppose I am just a sucker for some of the new blog clients. The latest is Windows Live Writer, it is the one that Microsoft is promoting through their Windows Live line of services and products. It defaults to wanting to post to your Windows Live Spaces account. But it is pretty smart about connecting you to your own blog service/software or give you access through one of the blog APIs. The WYSIWYG seems pretty good has a kind of pared down version of Word feel to it. It is definitely a worthy competitor to the other clients (Performancing, Qumana, etc.).
(Update: I am finding it less than easy to add tags, and other things. There is a plugin for tags, flickr. If you want to add tags to two different services (say Technorati and del.icio.us) I am not even sure how you might do this.
). I am running the mobile TypePad blogging app. Given that the form factor is not too big, the slide out is not bad. Like all of the keyboards like this it is helpful to have small fingers. Enough for now, need to find the battery charger.