I finally took the leap… it’s been a couple of weeks now and I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really given my new little guy much undivided attention, but I must say, I’m enjoying the new addition… a Motion Computing Tablet PC – LE1600.

As I’ve said before, I don’t think the UMPC’s are quite ready for the workout I give my equipment. I know that the battery life on those machines is sub-standard, whereas the battery life on this little guy has been great so far. Depending on my use (heavy hard drive use and music/video use shortens life somewhat), my tablet runs 2-3 hours on the standard battery. That’s actual time, not “manufacturer expectation talk” (which is, in my experience, considerably less battery time than advertised on most models.)

There is an extended battery available for this little guy that’s supposed to bump breathing time for it up to the 7-9 hour range. I’ll get one of those soon, but for now, I’m so busy with clients that I’ve not had time to properly play and determine if I’ll need it. (more…)

It’s pretty confusing these days, as the House and the Senate battle, pass and amend the bills related to net neutrality preserving and abolishing online freedoms. What do I want? I want the government and the big business’ hands off my access to, what I consider to be, MY Internet!

What does this mean? It means if the government must get involved, I want it to protect my rights — not limit them and not sacrifice MORE of my personal rights and freedoms in the name of anything — economic development, national security or anything similar.

Wouldn’t it be nice if they would also quit naming bills in a way that they appear to support exactly what they try to abolish? Yeah, that would be nice!

So, if all this leaves you unsure what to tell your representatives, maybe the information below will help… now get active, get vocal, and be heard.

To learn more, go here: Roycroft Study on Net Neutrality and this news article on Net Neutrality issues that includes information on several of the bills in one place.

Visit http://www.savetheinternet.com/ and http://www.itsournet.org/ to get active online, now before Thursday comes and goes… also be sure to contact your particular representatives a.s.a.p. The Senate Votes this Thursday.

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I think I just aged about a decade. Me, with a son… that’s now an ADULT! I now have “adult children”… go figure! And my parents have always told me… “You think it’s tough now? Wait until they are adults… and you watch them, and have to keep quiet… and you have NO control… and no misconceptions that you might have any.”

Well, that’s where I am now.

My son, Nicholas, is not only 18, he’s now tattooed (don’t ask me … you don’t wanna know my view on this one.. sigh) and he’s enlisted in the Army. My baby boy (now towering over my own height of 5′7″ by a good six inches) is headed to basic training in September. He wants to be an Airborne Ranger. He wants to “blow stuff up.” (His statement, not mine). Double sigh.

But, this does… finally… help me to make sense of why he liked destroying things as a child. He was fascinated with deconstruction… demolition… taking things apart… sometimes fast, sometimes slow… but everything the boy touched had to come to pieces. Occasionally he would rebuild it but, more often than not, it was a one way street. He took it apart and lost interest in it… preferring to move on to something still IN one piece.

LOL. Ahhh, the joys of boys. And now, I find myself wishing he were still deconstructing my things around the house, despite the fussing I did about it at the time. Now, I have bigger concerns. I’m worried about him going to war… and I know that the chances are good that’s where he will go. To fight for a war that I believe we should never have started.

Don’t get me wrong… I’ve always, ALWAYS supported our troops. They are the people dedicated enough to clean up messes that aren’t theirs because it is their duty. That takes character and drive that I’m not sure I would have in their same shoes. But, my support of our troops in no way crosses over to my support of our Commander in Chief. *rolls eyes at the title itself — when attached to the current White House occupant*

So, my baby is now a man. And he’s moving on with his life. I’m proud of you, Nicholas. REALLY proud. But I’ll miss the baby that you were and the child that my memory will always hold. I look forward to getting to know the man that you are quickly becoming. You are destined to be a pretty interesting individual. And, I look forward to transitioning from a “parent-child” relationship to an “adult-adult” relationship…. well, most of the time I am. Is it ok if I still miss the you that you were, while I watch you become the you that you are?

Love you and godspeed, dear.

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I’ve been so busy since I returned from Colorado (and during the last couple weeks there and in transit) that I’ve not blogged as I should. But, even with this stack of stuff on my desk, and my overwhelming “to do” list and the stomping of fires that comes with any long trip away… I had to take a moment to talk about the Net Neutrality issue and to encourage everyone who uses the Internet to write and email their congressmen, legislators, governors… and anyone else who will listen and have an impact on getting their opinions heard.

Unless you want someone else determining what you can do online, where you can go and how much it will cost you… read on…I’ve contacted my leadership locally and have written emails and signed petitions… but this morning I read this: (more…)