Can I Make The Switch?

Let me start off by saying I’m a BlackBerry fan(boy). I also like Apple. But I use a BlackBerry for my day-to-day tasks at work and personal stuff.  It’s been a great platform which has proven itself reliable, secure and fast.

Recently though with the latest software update I’ve had a lot of problems with my BlackBerry 9930. Frequent lockups, long reboots (15 minutes!), and poor battery life have led me to look for an alternative.

Earlier this week I received an iPhone 4s to try and so far it’s pretty interesting. Having used an iPod touch for years I’m very familiar with the Apple operating system. In fact an iPhone is just touch with a phone. (or so I thought).

I know there’s a bit more to it like processing power, battery life, screen resolution, and Siri, but other than that they’re very similar (ha).

The first thing I noticed when using the iPhone is its much faster than my fourth generation iPod touch. I mean it’s really fast!  It makes the applications that I’m used to much more enjoyable. They seem to launch faster, respond faster, and all-around give a better user experience.

I’m giving the iPhone two weeks to see if it can win me over. If not, I’m going to have to (shutter) look at an Android or go back to a Windows-based phone…  I surely hope the ghost of Steve will prevent that from happening.

The Bloggess

Every once in a while you find a website that really stands out.  I’m not sure how I came across TheBloggess.com but I’m glad I did.  Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess) is about as crackpot as they come, and this is a designation I believe she would appreciate.  Borderline bipolar and definitely a little manic her writing style ranges from casual to hilariously quirky, usually within the same paragraph.

My appreciation for her humor started out with a post on her blog titled “And that’s why you should learn to pick your battles.” [NSFW]  Go ahead & click the link and have a read for yourself (be sure to come back though!).

Beyoncé the metal chicken is just one of many “characters” dreamt up by Jenny.  She also has a fascination with taxidermied animals that died of natural causes (thanks to her father) and dresses them up in clothing that, I assume, she makes herself.  One blog post explained how she traveled with “Hamlet Von Schitzel”, a stuffed mouse dressed like Hamlet who graces the cover of her book.

Recently Jenny published a book (10 years in the making) called “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” which chronicles her childhood, how she met her husband Victor, and explains how she became who she is today.  The book is already #1 on the NY Times List a week after its release.  I per-ordered the Kindle Edition of the book back in January and when it arrived I couldn’t put it down.  It had me laughing uncontrollably starting with the introduction.

If you’re looking for some offbeat humor from a great story-teller check out TheBloggess.com.

BP Oil Spill Aftermath

Remember the Gulf Oil Spill in 2010?  Well, all of those dispersants and solvents used to break up the oil are now possibly linked to some serious genetic defects being found in the area sea life.  Pretty scary stuff!

From Gizmodo: Al Jazeera just published an astonishing report on the after-effects of the BP oil disaster, and it’s not pretty. There are an alarming number of deformities in sea creatures: mutated shrimp, fish with sores and lesions, eyeless crabs and more. It’s unlike anything local fisherman have ever seen.

Automate Common Tasks in Your Life Using NFC Tags

Remember back in the 90’s when Bluetooth started became available in Cellular Phones? It took what seemed like a LONG time for it become a standard feature on everything from phones to laptops to cars. Now Bluetooth is everywhere. Near Field Communication (NFC) has a lot of potential. It’s already used, in limited applications, at gas pumps and checkout stands. Google Wallet was supposed to help spur the adoption of NFC but, like other technologies, it’s not being implemented very quickly.

The following video shows some things you can do with NFC Tags and a phone that supports the technology.