Saturday Morning Review

OK it’s Saturday and I am operating out of Starbucks today here at the Jungle (Jungle Jim’s). I have spoken in the past about Twitter and today I found a good article on “How to Write in 140 Characters or Less” that I would like to pass along. The author, Dustin Wax, is also the creator of “The Writer’s Technology Companion” which is also an interesting site and worth looking at.

I happened to be at a wine tasting last night (imagine that) and met a very interesting person who sells utility equipment. In the course of the conversation I mentioned this site (What’s New On The Horizon) and he pulls out his iPhone and sends himself an email with the address of the site. Gone are the days of the scratch pad. I asked some questions about how he liked his iPhone and found that the company he is working for will be going over to Google for email and will be using the iPhone. I did start to think afterwards that I use Google email and their IMAP protocol to bring the email into Outlook and at that point I can then create a Task that I will be able to set up with a reminder.

I was quite impressed with the way my friend handled the ability to make this quick note. I guess the impression comes from the fact that this is what I do but then I am in this business of finding and using these technologies he is in the business of selling and putting these technologies to a practical application – I just play. What is even more interesting is that most IT people that I talk to do not get in the way of these new technologies, it is not of interest to them and they do not see the practical application where the rest of the world can.

I can remember in the late 80’s when I was purchasing computer systems for installation in large video stores, I was discussing  with the builder how I felt that building computers in the future would be the same as building TV’s and that the “real” benefit would be in the use of the technology not the technology per se. I still believe that.  I have an electro-mechanical technician’s background but today I could care less how it goes together, it’s what can I do with it to make my life easier, to communicate, and allow me to do my thing.

Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!