Archive for May, 2009

Posted on May 31, 2009 - by J Lane

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-31

• I can’t even put into words how much I’m looking forward to the next Mythbusters “Thermite vs. Ice” #
• Facebook is profitable? Oh wait, no… they just had more money given to them. Right, I forgot that we’re in the 90s again. #
• Oh yeah, forget last.fm is now charging a non-US tax… Guess I’ll have to remember to bring my iPod when I’m away from my computer now. #
• The #3wordsduringsex meme has got to be the best yet #
• Yum, I smell a new Slice… #
• Damn, I’ve started using twitter for business purposes now (notifications on things etc.) Makes shutting it down to work harder. #
• Kids sleeping? Could it really be? #
• Now a member of the local Chamber of Commerce. Any guesses as to how many of OUR members wore a tie to the AGM? #
• … I knew there was a reason that I love this island. #
• Son is at the age now where I’m just as excited about his birthday presents as he is #
• I think that my sceptic system woes may be behind me now. #happyhappyjoyjoy #
• And that ladies and gentlemen brings us to the shower component of our day. Stay tuned… #
• Hosting another BBQ tonight. You’d think it wassummer or something… #
• The last tweet from @dhh TOTALLY ROCKED MY WORLD!!! #
• I think I’m going to have the chance to play with BuddyPress on an upcoming project. Looking forward to it! #
• Really couldn’t be a nicer night. What to do though? Movie time? #
• Sorry, if you’re still tweeting #spymaster tweets, unfollow is in your future #
• Google Gears update became a multi-step process. The dangers of SSBs I guess. #

Posted on May 30, 2009 - by J Lane

I’m a Master

On Thursday the 28th, technically at least, I convocated, and received my Masters’ of Education.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it out to Lethbridge, Alberta to receive it in person, but nevertheless, it feels pretty good to have that done. It’s crazy to think that I started it right after Reilly was born, and he just turned five years old. Time flies so quickly.

In order to answer the inevitable questions of “what are you going to do with your M.Ed.?” my current response is still the same “not a heck of a lot”. I started my studies in Education when I was working for a department at the University that did technology integration in teaching. It was a great fit for me at the time, having a ton of knowledge in that technology stuff, but not so much in that teaching stuff. Regardless, I have no regrets about following through and finishing what I started.

I don’t know if that’s the end of the line for me in terms of collecting degrees. At one point, I really wanted to go for a doctorate as well, and teach at a college or University, but that interest has worn off somewhat. I’ve often wondered what I’ll do with all of my spare time once the kids are both in school — so I’m not closing the door on anything yet.

Posted on May 29, 2009 - by J Lane

Canadian ocean currents

I started working on an Excel sheet at work today (work in this case being Blue Vista) that automatically calculated current times for Mayne Island. It’s essential information for sea kayaking.

I can’t for the life of me figure out why this information isn’t available online. I’ve searched high and low for it, but can’t find so much as a PDF. Tide tables are available, but not currents.

I’d love to write an app to automatically pull the data, do the time conversions, and possibly even put it on a map. I’m even considering scanning and OCRing the printed book….

Posted on May 27, 2009 - by J Lane

Expansion anxiety

I’m at a funny place right now, but I’m sure that I’m not the first to be here. Industry Interactive has enough client work for more than one person (me). Timelines are starting to stretch out, Mailmanagr is waiting in the wings. I’ve flirted with hiring before, and had even announced that an old high school friend of mine was going to join in part time (that didn’t end up happening though, he became tied up in another project). The truth is, however, that I’m one step short of terrified.

My biggest hang up at the moment is with being responsible for another person’s livelihood. If a client is late to pay, I can survive and coast on savings for a month or two. If I have to pay someone else, that arrangement becomes complicated. I’m building a case reserve to try to buffer that problem, but I don’t have a ton of cash saved yet.

So where to I go from here? Is this just a “gut check” moment, where I’m going to have to take the plunge? Or is my hesitation rooted in an overall sense of instability? Do I wait a little longer and build up that reserve?

Posted on May 27, 2009 - by J Lane

I was barely there anyways

I’m at it again.  I missed the hackability of WordPress entirely too much, hanging out over on Tumblr.  So now I’m back hosting it myself and starting from scratch.

I know, my pagerank is going to go down the toilet.  I’m really not overly concerned though.

Must mean that I actually plan on blogging again though.  Hmmm… that might be interesting.

Posted on May 26, 2009 - by J Lane

Yup, it’s a disorder

I’ve fallen into that cycle of “switching my blog around more than I actually post”. It’s a sad time, but I really had to get back to a self-hosted setup. Tumblr is great, but it’s just not for me.

So I’m back again with WordPress, and this time I think that I’m actually going to make an effort to post semi-regularly. There’s a lot going on right now: ramping up for another season of kayak rentals, Mailmanagr is growing in numbers (and soon in features too, I promise!), Industry Interactive is doing well and expanding, we’re taking on some new projects that will be really interesting when they’re done, and then there’s the family. Reilly’s 5 now, Parker is 3 in an hour and a half. I can’t believe that I’ve got a school-aged child. Where has time gone?

I still haven’t completely decided where this blog is going to go. Previously, I’ve kept it strictly personal, which is problematic because no one group of people would be interested in everything I post about. Family wants to read about the kids, and life outside of work. I tend to get my geek on quite regularly, which appeals to a different crowd. Multiple blogs isn’t an option; I can’t even keep this one updated.

I expect things will be a mismash for a while.