A new year, renewed focus

by Jerry on January 20, 2011

I’ll be the first to admit that this past year hasn’t seen a lot of attention paid to anything.  While my wife was deployed in Turkey my focus was on my family (and a short WoW addiction), not on the business of blogging.

As we walk into this new year together as a family once again I’ve had to take a look at all of the projects I half-started over the past year.  I’ve begun the process of liquidating those that I will never return to and have begun planning the road forward for those I think are worth continuing.

There are far too many things that I started with little enthusiasm.  Those projects are gone.  I have neither the time nor the resources to move them forward.  This year is pivotal for both myself and my family.  It’s the year that either everything clicks or that everything has to begin anew.

I’m all for moving ahead at full steam.

For those of you who have visited in my semi-absence, thanks for sticking it out.  I hope you’re still here with me in ten years, because I have no intention of going anywhere.

This year will see a slew of changes.  Most I hope will be for everyone’s benefit.  Some will surely piss a few people off.  That is the nature of change; Not everyone enjoys it.

Personally, I can’t wait.  It’s about damned time.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Twitter streaming API – Welcome back IRC

by Jerry on November 20, 2010

TweetDeck just recently embraced Twitters streaming API, which updates your friends twitter status in near real time.  Seesmic desktop has also embraced this feature, as i’m sure many other social media aggregators will in the near future (if they haven’t already.)  This feature has been touted as something close to revolutionary but in fact, it isn’t a step in a new direction, it’s a step in a very old direction.

For me the changes are less revolution than a step back to the beginnings of social trends on the Internet.  specifically, the new changes in the way we view twitter remind me strongly of the venerable IRC, or Internet Relay Chat.

Instead of browsing through an easily manageable group of updates every 30 seconds or so, it’s back to trying to get information as it scrolls by on the screen.  If you need to click a link, check a photo or are very interested in a particular update, you have to be quick about it, otherwise it scrolls right on past, leaving you to scroll back to find it.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing.  One advantage to twitter is that lists and groups can make navigating the onslaught of information easier.  Most clients will also let you opt-out of the streaming API if you choose; Though I’m not sure why anyone would want to.

The advantage of the streaming API is that it makes the entire experience feel “live.”  You get updates almost as quickly as they are posted, which makes the conversation feel more immediate.  The fact that you can “miss something” forces you to pay attention, at least to those lists that you feel are important.  In that way it makes social media even more of a social event.

What I find  slightly humorous about the whole thing is that for all the hype surrounding social media, it really is nothing more than a chat system.  The difference is that in social media you don’t join a group of people discussing a topic, you have to go find them for yourself.

I wonder what the next huge revelation in social Media will be, but what I really want to know is:  What older technology will this *new wonder tech* actually be derived from?

Do you have any thoughts on the subject?  If you disagree I’d love to hear why.  In the mean time, we’re still trying to get settled in to our new house, so I’ll leave this post here.

Until next time,

Peace.  I’m out.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Food for thought. Did you know any of this?

October 19, 2010

Having started in the tech world in 1996, the information in this video surpasses anything we thought would be happening by now.  At that time having True Color was something new and exciting.  nobody had imagined that the Internet would grow to what it is today. I’m glad that it has. Peace. I’m out

Read the full article →

Why the Carrington theme for WordPress rocks

October 19, 2010

You might think that the Carrington theme for WordPress would find itself a little outdated in the new world of Thesis, Thematic and other theme frameworks of their kind.  I would disagree.  For me, Carrington still works extremely well as a blog theme.  I believe it so much that it’s what I’m using, but let [...]

Read the full article →

Plugin woes

October 11, 2010

I think it’s a conspiracy.  One targeted directly at me, because nobody else seems to be having issues, or if they are, I can’t find a mention of it.  It’s confusing and annoying, especially since I have an extensive background in the Internet, WordPress, PHP and plugins. I can’t keep any of my automated notification [...]

Read the full article →

Gamer Girlz Rock

October 8, 2010

This validates the geek in me. I thought I’d share.

Read the full article →

Whoops! I did it again.

October 2, 2010

I let life get in the way of writing.  For a very long time.  I’ve been dealing with a lot on the home front and am just one month from moving from California to Alaska.  In between the time of my last post and today there has been an insurmountable list of things to get [...]

Read the full article →

Resume’s – My secret fear

July 30, 2010

Resume’s terrify me.  It’s irrational and irritating, but it’s true.  For as long as I can remember, the words “submit your resume” have filled me with the same kind of panic that most people associate with root canals or major surgery. Even more of a stumbling block for me is that now I am having [...]

Read the full article →

Let your ideas grow

July 28, 2010

As it says in my tagline; “It starts with an idea. It’s what you do with that idea that matters.” But keeping fresh ideas coming can be a challenge, especially if you write in a crowded niche like this one. I try to keep fresh ideas rolling in by checking my twitter stream and checking [...]

Read the full article →

Why Monday shouldn’t be the worst day of the week

July 26, 2010

Today started like most others.  Coffee, check email and twitter.  Also normal for the beginning of the week were people lamenting the fact that it was Monday again and that a full week of work was ahead of them. I think a small adjustment in thinking is in order here.  Mondays are not your enemy. [...]

Read the full article →