THIS BLOG IS HORRIBLY OUT OF DATE! IT HAS MOVED TO: http://www.travisnewton.net
THANKS!
I’m Back!
So I realize that I have been neglecting this blog – bad me! Well, I’m just providing a short, quick update letting you know that I’m still here and I’m working on a new post that I should post later today. Or maybe I’ll just post a lot today! Haha.
Public Park Bashing: Why?
This is a topic to look into why people are so negative about public park systems and several various issues. As a disclaimer, my thoughts and opinions are just those: thoughts and opinions of me. They may not reflect or be the opinions of the Geauga Park District, for which I am affiliated.
In my home county, people seem to have a problem with a well efficient park system. My hometown also seems to have that issue as well. The residents just don’t respond to parks but I have a feeling that’s because they don’t understand the reason behind the Geauga Park District.
What’s the big deal about the “cloud”?
So what is the big deal about “cloud” computing lately? I am hoping this comes across as common sense, but maybe it won’t, but the “cloud” is the Internet. The thing that has been providing us communications for over 20 years. Yep, suddenly everyone is basically “remarketing” it and making it sound cooler than “Internet Computing”. The concept is nothing new. Server based calendars (such as Google Calendars), server based email (Gmail), and server based documents (Google Docs) isn’t new. But where is the cloud really going?
If you know anything about the Google Chrome OS (not the web browser), it’s basically a Cloud Operating System. Basically, this boils down to two things:
- Your computer must have a stable & permanent internet connection in order to do anything other than just booting up.
- All your personal documents, files, and what have you, now reside on the Internet.
Let me point special interest to #2. Remember when Facebook changed their TOS and the world had a hissy fit because suddenly everything they uploaded to Facebook became Facebook property? The same thing applies here. Also, the internet is permanent in nature. Just because you delete something, doesn’t mean Google doesn’t have a copy of it sitting on a backup server. Also, there are many other security issues. After all, Google scans your email so they can serve you advertising. Who says they won’t scan your personal documents and tip off the feds if you have something they deem suspicious? And after all, who wants Larry Page and Sergey Brin knowing what kind of porn they have stored?
Slow Updates
Dear Readers:
I do apologize for slow updates with the blog and Who’s in Charge. Working on some big personal projects so hang tight! 
9 out of 10 Dentists Agree: This Blog is Better than Brushing your Teeth
I’m sure we’ve all experienced the ads on TV at one point or another where the announcer says something like “9 out of 10 dentists agree that brushing your teeth daily is good”. So, I want to know, who is that one dentist that seems to have a different opinion? Is this dentist off the norm or what? This outcast dentist always seems to think that whatever is acceptable, isn’t. I might be asking a lot of questions here, but is this dentist even a certified dentist?
Google Voice & 911 Services
As Google Voice becomes more popular and more and more people have access to this platform, I’m going to take some time to explain how Google Voice interacts with 911 services and other N11 numbers. If you’re using Google Voice (GV) on your Android device or iPhone, you have the option of making GV “take over” and use GV to make calls. For example, on my G1 if I was to call my mom, my GV number would show up on her caller ID instead of my real number. This is because GV is a phone forwarding service. This is why you can register multiple numbers to your GV number.
Naturally, when telephony services come to mind, 911 and E911 (Enhanced 911) top the list. Well, the folks at Google have thought about this and from research, calls made to 911 or other N11 services (411, 511,611, etc) bypass GV and use your actual phone number. This way you can be connected to the nearest 911 call center. I hope this clears up any questions you might have regarding GV and 911.
“Who’s In Charge” Retraction
Dear Readers,
I am deeply sorry and regretful for any negative impressions of my “Who’s In Charge” I posted last night to Twitter insulting Apple, Inc. and the iPad. As a computer professional, I do respect and appreciate the work Apple, Inc. has done for our technology based world and I do apologize for my actions. With my job relating to Information Technology and Information Systems, I respect everything that Apple has done for us.
While I myself am not an avid product user, I have and do own Apple products. I’ve used Macs and owned both an iPhone and MacBook Pro and I also own a second generation iPod Nano. Apple has opened up new doors in the technology industry and will continue to do so. While I never will consider myself a huge fan of Apple, I do respect their work. After all, they also revolutionized the computer industry and the advertising industry with their “1984″ Super Bowl commercial.
Again, I do apologize about the tweet and I strive to be as professional as possible.
All the best,
Travis Newton
Why My Next Provider Will Be T-Mobile
Why does AT&T suck lately? I’ve noticed this not just from the way they treat their customers but even in their advertising battle with Verizon. My reasons for leaving AT&T were involuntary, my fault, and AT&T’s fault. First off, let me introduce myself as a student. This summer, I got a line with AT&T and an iPhone because, well, I could. I could afford it and I loved it. Then, I experienced what many Americans have faced: unemployment. Although I could see the end of my employment since I was contracted until November 1, 2009, I did the smart thing and started job hunting. In September. I didn’t get hired until the middle of November at a store 45 minutes away from home! Of course, I couldn’t pay my bill and my service got suspended. Well here it is in January, I’m going to be starting a new job soon and AT&T canceled my account! I thought they didn’t do that until 6 months later?
AT&T is a good provider – when they choose to be. But that kind of selective service isn’t good enough for me. Their rates are ridiculous and there is no excuse when other providers are much lower. T-Mobile is half! I’ve given up completely on AT&T because they want me to register to browse their site. Sorry, no thank you. What justifies charging $100 for 400 minutes, Unlimited Text & Web when T-Mobile charges $60 for 500 munutes, Unlimited Text & Web? There is no justification!
Wine & Cheese
Being a former Microsoft Windows user and coming over to Linux, there are many obstacles to overcome. Besides the obvious GUI (graphical user interface) changes, software changes can be the hardest to overcome especially because there is some software written only for Microsoft Windows. How does one overcome this barrier? It’s actually really easy! Just go to the wine cellar… no! Just kidding! Actually, you’ll want to install a software program called WINE, which stands for Wine Is Not an Emulator. I’d also suggest installing Wine-Doors as well. This article is not a tutorial so I won’t be showing you how to obtain Wine or Wine-Doors. I’m just going to talk about benefits of running Wine with Wine-Doors and how this can make your switch over from Windows easier. Also, even if you’ve always used Linux, maybe there is a Windows application you’d like to try. Whatever your reasons, Wine can be a very helpful tool.
Ever since I have been using Linux, I have been using Wine because naturally there are the Windows programs I can’t live without. These usually include Photoshop, and Internet Explorer (for web compatibility reasons). Of course, Linux has The Gimp but as a Photoshop user, The Gimp is not Photoshop. I’ve read tutorials, I’ve read different magazines but I am just not a fan of The Gimp. Read the rest of this entry »
