My Bollywood Bender

wikipedia.org

I've recently reignited my guilty pleasure in Bollywood films. As a kid growing up in Nigeria, Bollywood films were as much a staple as jollof rice. Returning to the US and the passing of decades, made those films all but wisps of estranged childhood memories...until last year.

I was returning from a business trip in Saudi Arabia, and on my flight was seated next to two Indian women. There was nothing of interest in my entertainment selections and I was wide awake at one in the morning. However the women next to me weren't only enjoying their film, but the woman to my right, had convinced her friend to her right, to take her other earpiece, get into this movie, and get out of the in-flight magazine.

They were giggling so loudly, I was compelled to sneak a peek, and began watching their subtitled movie with their permission. All three of us had a great laugh watching, what I would find out months later was, Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap, staring the renowned Amitabh Bachchan.

I shared this with my oldest sister, a much bigger fan of Bollywood films, and promised I'd get her the name of that movie that rekindled a special part of my childhood.

Sis, here are a few more Bollywood films I've indulged in over the last couple of months:

• Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - Shahrukh Khan
• Talaashi - Aamir Khan
• Lovesongs - Jaya Bhaduri
• Kahbi Kahbie - Amitabh Bachchan
• Mohabbatein - Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan
• Jab Tak Hai Jaan - Shahrukh Khan

With My Vuvuzela, I Salute You Mandela

last.fm

Three years after watching on TV, Mandela lift the FIFA World Cup trophy in South Africa, I blew into my vuvuzela today for the first time. One short blast inside the house to represent his perseverance while imprisoned. One long blare outside, on my veranda into the night sky, to represent the freedom his release gave so many.

Remembering JFK

I remember JFK train station from my days at UMASS Boston.

I remember crossing JFK Street in Cambridge enough times to draw a picture from memory.

I remember visiting the JFK library, and did "see his 'D' at the Museum".

I remember visiting the Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery.

I remember watching his brother preside over a swearing-in of new US citizens, aboard the aircraft carrier named after him.

I remember best, and still can't get out of my head after twenty years, an excerpt of JFK's famous speech, thanks to a college video editing project. Today it still inspires me.

Zumbi dos Palmares - A Symbol of Freedom

Wikipedia

Every once in a while someone will ask me, "Why did you name your company Zumbi Mobile Solution?" or "What's a Zumbi?" I try not to chuckle at the latter, as it's a good, important, and honest question. Zumbi dos Palmares was a born-free, Afro-Brazilian freedom fighter.

I discovered Zumbi in 2000 during my first trip to Brazil. When Brazilians wanted to find out about more about me, they asked my birth-date. When I would respond, the reaction was always the same; pleasant surprise. After the fifth person's reaction, I decided to ask what the deal was with that date. "You don't know?" she said. "Every Brazilian knows this." I explained that I wasn't Brazilian.

I found out that slavery in Brazil was officially ended on my birth-date. My visit also coincided with 500 years since Brazil was discovered, so a few carnival themes included songs or references to Zumbi.

So what does Zumbi have to do with Zumbi Mobile Solutions? The freedom and peace of mind technology can provide the human race, by solving the problems of our times, and particular those that adversely affect the African diaspora.

"November 20 is celebrated, chiefly in Brazil, as a day of Afro-Brazilian consciousness. The day has special meaning for those Brazilians of African descent who honor Zumbi as a hero, freedom fighter, and symbol of freedom. Zumbi has become a hero of the twentieth-century Afro-Brazilian political movement, as well as a national hero in Brazil." - Wikipedia

PS. After four trips to Brasília, I still haven't found that bust of Zumbi. Perhaps next time. Eu quero ver...

Trayvon Martin Sunday

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, was the honorary guest today at Saint Paul A.M.E Church, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where my daughter visits to sing with the youth choir once a month. While Ms. Fulton was only able to attend the first service (I was at the second), I was told she gave very brief but powerful words to the congregants.

Pastor Rev. Melvin E. Wilson had asked everyone to don a hoodie to the services in remembrance of Trayvon. I had to admit that at first I was a bit taken aback. The only times I wear a hoodie is when I'm home working on my motorcycle or other manual labor. This was Sunday, going to church with my daughter. We'd both be wearing hoodies.

The first thought in my head was, I really don't want to be DWB today, not even by chance, not with my kid in the car. But then I thought, there really isn't anything inherently wrong with wearing a hoodie. It's just the fear of becoming a target (e.g. KWB). So, I had another conversation with my daughter (at her level), about who Trayvon was, who killed him, and why he got killed. We also talked about being perceived as being a treat because of one's appearance, including skin color, and how to mitigate that.

In the service it was remarkable to see three and four generations of congregants, of all backgrounds, with hoodies. Professor Chales Ogeltree gave the word (i.e. sermon) for the second service; focusing on remembering Travyon and those before him (e.g. Emmett Till), honoring Trayvon by understanding the laws of our municipalities, to listen to and teach our children about "the rough side of the mountain", and not letting our fears keep them in the dark about the realities of life they ought to be aware of. Unfortunately, my son is too young to understand at the level of his sister. However, I've kept the church program, so we can start to have the conversation, one hoodie at a time.

A Definition of a Veteran

Borrowed from Mount Rushmore for the dedication

Someone who writes a check to the US government, payable for up to his or her life. I heard this last Sunday from Brigadier General Paul G. Smith, Assistant Adjutant General of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, at the dedication of the Medford, Massachusetts Veterans' Honor Roll Park. The ceremony was to add to the Honor Roll, the names of all Medford residents who served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

While I wasn't deployed in any of those conflicts, I remember vividly (then) General Colin Powell announcing the start of Operation Desert Storm, only a few days before my graduation from Basic Training. Gen. Smith made it a point to acknowledge all veterans, including those in attendance. I was taken aback by the overwhelming public attendance and support. Please remember to thank a veteran and offer your support however you can. The smallest gesture can have such an impact.

Double T Catering App (DTCcater) Now Available for Android

We are pleased to announce the Double T Catering app, DTCcater, for Android, is now available on Google Play.

A Word On The Afterlife

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

Luke 16:19-31 KJV

What Do Heidi Klum and Tope Oluwole Have in Common?

name-list.net

According to Google, a lot. So, every once in a while, plus 'cause I'm a geek and I like search engine updates, I check out me on search engines. Don't look at me like that. People who haven't even met you are Google-ing you right now, and you're not even famous. That hiring manager, your boss, your date, your _____. The point isn't to be squeaky clean, but rather (as I tell folks) realize that once anything about you or your namesake is on the internet (regardless of how it got there), it can be data mined. So do your best to make sure you put out as much good vibes as you can. Tangent.

So instead of the typical Google web search, I went further and clicked on the images link. The first image was, big surprise, yours truly. The next several: my book covers, friends on Google+, Meetup.com acquaintances, Google-related stuff of mine, Linked In connection folks, my app, public postings, Nigeria-related stuff... Then it got interesting; a graph of Oluwoles and their location world-wide. Five are in Poland, and they are probably related to me.

Then it got weird: a couple of images of Heidi Klum. I attributed it to what I like to call Metadata Voodoo^TM (I define this as what happens at the long tail end of any search: leftovers). But then there were more images of Klum, and more. Now I was a bit embarrassed, which quickly shifted to concern. There were more than a dozen images, easily. This wasn't Metadata Voodoo. This was coming up this often because there were a considerable about metadata.

One of the first things I learned about debugging code is that when you get an error at a particular line of code, it's typical the result of something immediately before the error was raised. Most adults do this naturally already. If you see a new dent in your door at the shopping mall, the first place you typically investigate is the car next to you.

I also noticed amongst the Klum images, some of the movie that always comes up when I search me; The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. This movie stars my (much more attractive) namesake, and (drum roll please) Heidi Klum.

Google you, and let me know what interesting things about you pop-up.

Take Heart, Have Courage

More raw sermon notes, from the iPod:

Sermon "courage":



Take heart. A God-size dream is bigger than you and your resources 

Courage is to proceed despite fear.

1. Courage is not waiting for fear to go away.

Wherever there is uncertainty there will always be a need for leaders 

2. Anyone can be courageous 

What would you do if you aren't afraid? (from Who Moved My Cheese

3. Courage is not innate but developed

Progress requires courage 

4. Courage is feeling fear but choosing to act anyway.

Have the courage to listen and obey God

If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his 
years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no 
burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. For he cometh in with 
vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 
Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than 
the other. Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no 
good: do not all go to one place? (Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 KJV)

There is no security in that which is no longer meaningful.

For Men Only: How To Never Lose Another Umbrella

Wait.

Make sure your lady is OUT of the room.

Or better yet, out of the house. Are you all set? Good. I'll make it short, 

in case she sneaks back in, because you were so eager to get her out, that you

 overdid it by giving her your credit card and car keys. Here it is... Get a pink umbrella. Get

 a tote-sized, bright, monochrome pink (that's pink only, for you art majors) umbrella. I've 

had  mine for seven years, or something. Ain't no shame fellas. Ain't no shame. I've left it at work, 

on the bus, in restaurants, at Fenway Park, at my mama house...and it's always gotten back to 

me , before I've gotten too far. Once you get yours... Men will be too embarrassed to steal it. 

Women 

will want 

to see 

the look of 

horror on your 

face when they 

return it and 

then compliment 

you about being 

secure in your 

manhood.

Kids won't 

want it, 

because kids 

don't want 

what they 

already have 

or that you're 

too eager to 

give to them, 

such as chores, 

consequences, 

advice, and 

Amoxicillin.

And after all 

this time, I've 

finally figured 

out to fix my 

umbrella when 

the canopy 

separates 

from the tips.

If you want 

to know how, 

let me know

...if you dare. :)

Would You Buy, and Wear A Smart-watch Daily?

phonearena.com

I haven't worn a dumb-watch (reads much better than "non-smart-watch") since 2000. The use-cases for smart-watches in general haven't yet been clearly defined.

I carry and use multiple mobile devices and laptops, daily. I own five lovely dumb-watches; one which has served as my alarm clock for years. I still don't wear dumb-watches. I love dumb-watches. I always have. I always will. I just don't like wearing them.

Why? If you have a dumb-watch on your wrist, you're most likely to check the time way more often than you absolutely need to. You can't resist because a different time is always going to be presented to you whenever you check. There's no way to easily stop that habit with a dumb-watch, than to...not wear the dumb-watch. That's fine. That's what dumb-watches do best: present you something different every second of your life.

I will happily wear those rubber bracelets; the likes of which were pioneered by the Livestrong Foundation. The rubber bracelet currently on my wrist is about style and personal branding; a kind of removable tattoo. Still, I'm very interested in the iWatch. Although, any smart-watch would have to have at least these four characteristics, to compel me to wear it daily:

• A fashion accessory that is customizable to my personal style and branding. If the watch died, I'd still be compelled to wear it until I could get it fixed or could get a replacement
• A state-of-the-art, customizable, push-notification (alert) system that reduces my time on all other devices and apps I use, including the time and inconvenience of to pulling them out or/and loading them up and connecting to use them
• It doesn't constantly have to be paired to another device to be useful and enjoyable

You Know You're A Geek...

...when a co-worker sends you this over chat:

...and then you laugh your ass off.

What Would You Do With A Million Dollars?

photobucks.com

If you are ever short of conversation, that question will light it up every time. Notice people's eyes light up as they ponder or prepare to answer the question? Then you gets a variety of answers, in no particular order:

• Pay off bills
• Buy mama a house (deserves a bullet point of its own for its ubiquity)
• Quit job
• Donate 
• Travel
• Buy a ____________
• Buy some _________
• Pay for ___________
• Get a ____________

The above is by no means an exhaustive list. 

Here's some of what I've learned over the twenty years I've been asking people the question.

• People love being asked that question
• A lot of people aren't clear on what they'd like to do next after some the typical answers
• Few people realize (at least in the US) that depending on how you get the million dollars, it rarely gets to your pocket as a million dollars (read: taxes)
• Your bad habits * $1,000,000.00 that you didn't work for = mo' money, mo' problems (as Biggie Smalls would rap)
• You don't really (really) know how you'd respond to a lot of money out of nowhere, until you have to manage a lot of money out of nowhere
• Push people (gently of course) further on this question long enough, and they discover their true dreams and passions can be pursued without the million dollars

I'm lucky. I simply stuck my million dollars to my wall. It's probably better for both of us...since money isn't real. But that's another blog post.

Telling Kids The Truth

Arthur Fordham c1902

So a few nights ago I'm reading Little Red Riding Hood to my kids; one in a line of many, many earlier versions. I get to that part where the wolf eats grandma....when my four-year-old son, still learning to read, interrupts, "don't you mean she hid in the closet?" I'm dumbfounded for a second, and then I remember vaguely that later versions of this famed story involve grandma and a closet.

I could do what most American parents I know would like do, and move the story right along for the sake of my audience and be mortified that such a politically-incorrect version of the book made its way into our sacred library. God knows I was tempted. Especially since my three-year-old nephew was also present. However, I've made it a policy to tell my kids the truth in a manner they will comprehend so matter how risqué the question.

"Noooo," I finally replied. "The wolf ate grandma." My index finger tracing below the words. My daughter, an excellent reader, nodded in agreement. When he protested that the version he knew about from TV involved a closet, I went on to explain that in the original version, the wolf actually ate grandma. I then explained to the kids, in their language, that sometimes there are different versions of a story to match the changing times in the world and how people feel about things.

Parenting in America today, and life in general, isn't like what it was when the original Little Red Riding Hood was printed. So there's this valid tendency to want to protect our children at all costs.
I believe we can do this by telling our children the truth, at a level and manner that they can comprehend, even if not fully. It's a muscle we as parents and all who care for and love children, have to exercise for it to become part of our conditioning. I wasn't so smooth my first time with my pal Curious George, but I had to start somewhere too.

I'm glad for my choice because next, the wolf (I totally forgot) eats Little Red too! Finally, the woodsman kills the wolf (oh dear) with his ax, freeing both grandma and Little Red (whew). I could hear my parental alarms blaring as I read, but I kept repeating to myself, you and millions of children once read (or were read) the same story, and the world didn't end.

Better a truth that fosters a difficult but necessary conversation, and path to a critical understanding of the world, than a lie that slowly but eventually erodes trust.

What We're Working On at Zumbi Mobile Solutions - 2013

Mobile Development:

Our sophomore iOS app (our first, DTCcater^TM was released last fall), MotrAide^TM, currently in development, is slated for a second beta release this Fall. With this project, I was able to indulge my love of maps using the Google Maps API. Although, Apple being (well) Apple, threw me a curve ball with the disappearance of Google Maps with the release of iOS 6. You all know by now how well that turned out.

The death of Apple has once again been greatly exaggerated though. Despite the media pundits chagrin with Apple, and Apple's slightly lower market share compared to the beginning of this year, I'm still quite bullish on Apple. In fact, I'm saving my lunch money for the iWatch, whenever that comes out. Besides, Google Glass would be redundant for me, as I refuse to wear contacts.

I still hear the siren calls of Android, Window Mobile, and Blackberry, and in that order. However, it's important to, "say no to a thousand things," to quote Steve Job, in order to focus for optimum results and success. Still, I couldn't resist and I'm now running Windows 8 on a beat up, left for dead, what used to be called tablet PC, laptop. Plus, I'm currently taking the Android SDK via Eclipse for a test drive.

Kindle Publishing:

After rethinking our approach to our second Kindle ebook  project, and shuffling completing priorities, the revised project is on our road-map for Winter 2013.

Enterprise Technical Support

Demand continues to increase for skilled technical support services for enterprise systems. As these system become more distributed, complex, and dependent on third party platforms, the ability to adapt as quickly as possible to the needs of organizations and their customers, while leveraging our core competences is even more important.

Obama on the Aftermath of the Trayvon Martin Verdict

I held off blogging on the verdict because I did a lot of thinking, introspection, and wondering on the past, present, and future of race relations in America, including my own personal history. Like a lot of people I know, a cooling off period was useful. I believe President Obama's speech summed up the sentiments well, and is a good touchstone on where to go from here. Check it out, and let me know what you think about how we move forward individually and collectively.

Navigating The Storms of Life

More raw sermon notes, from the iPod:

Family Matter 2013: Storms

A storm can be to your benefit.
Press into the storm.
We lose sight that The Lord is with us through the storm. 

"Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them,  Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.  And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them,  Where is your faith?  And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him." (Luke 
8:22-25 KJV)

God wants us to exercise our faith with the storms that come. 

1. Do not be intimidated by the storm, use the storm to your advantage. Ask the Lord what He wants you to do now. The storm is a test. Go where God wants you to go despite the storm. There will always be storms. Let God figure out how He is going to resolve the storm, because the resolution is beyond our comprehension. 

2. Give up controlling the situation to God. Focus on what you do know, not what you don't know. Keep your spirit strong. 

3. It's the word of God that gives us peace. Get into the presence of God.

4. Don't be bitter. Encourage people in the storm. 

5. Persist and persevere for you have a destiny. God says, "I have given you everything, you will overcome." Storms do not last forever. There is a due time and an appointed season to reap. 

6. Don't forget the storms you've already been through.

Occupy Brazil?

I have been ruminating over the protests in Brazil over the last week or so, not sure what exactly to write. I watched Bebeto play at the older-than-me Maracanã stadium in 2000, and saw the massive renovation of Mineirão stadium in 2012. I been to Rio, São Paulo, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, and Brasília across the years, and have experienced Brazil and Brazilians change over that time. I've seen the rich, the middle, and the poor, up close. Like in a lot of places, things over time have become better for some, not so much for a bunch of others. Still, I'm surprised it took this long for such a public outcry. I guess like my dad always said growing up; when you've had enough you say when.

 

Lyrics in English courtesy of Crimson.

"iOS 7 Is Like Getting A New Phone You Already Know How To Use"

iOS for the car - WWDC 2013

That's a quote from the iOS portion of Apple's 2013 Worldwide Developers Conference, I listening to this afternoon. This sums up why I believe Apple gets its customers in particular, and device users in general, in ways the pundits don't.

For the last couple of months, I've read articles about the demise of Apple (yes again)...if it doesn't release something phantasmagorical, tomorrow; like the iFaucet. Yes, a bit of hyperbole on my part. One of the things I've learned from Apple, but before that in the schoolyard, is that there will be folks in life that want to goad you into a fight, or push you do something before you are ready, able, or willing to. If peer-pressure doesn't work, the next steps involve taunts, jeers, and political spin. When this occurs, it's even more important to do you, as Russell Simmons would say. I'm glad Apple, is being Apple.

I'm neither an Apple, nor a Google, nor a Microsoft, nor a Blackberry fanboy. I own at least one of each type of device, but for different purposes. To me, that's one of the great rewards of competition in the marketplace. I get my ease and efficiency of use from Apple, navigation and ubiquitous cloud integration from Google, works-with-most-of-the-stuff-I-already-know from Microsoft, and no-frills effectiveness and durability from RIM (now Blackberry).

I still like my iPod Touch 4. It's considered antiquated to a lot of people, although it's only 21 months old. I still use it everyday; from listening to LL Cool J's, Rock The Bells, to app quality assurance testing. When I bought it, it ran iOS 4.x. I eventually updated it to iOS 5.1, and was an early (for me) adopter of iOS 6.0.1. I also picked up some nice features along the way, like iMessage with iOS 5.x and better integrated social media sharing with iOS 6.x. I was worried I may have to retire my iPod Touch to an expensive chess tutor for my daughter.  Now I'm curious to see how long I can keep bringing my iPod back into the future.

Resolving The Family Problem

My dad doesn't volunteer wisdom to me often, but every time he has, it's been on point. Not sure on the attribution on the following but here goes:

A father left 17 camels as an asset for his three sons. When the father passed away, his sons opened up the will. The will stated that the eldest son should get half of 17 camels while the middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third). The youngest son should be given 1/9th (one-ninth) of the 17 camels.

As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, The three sons started to fight with each other. So, the three sons decided to go to a wise man.

The wise man listened patiently about the will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one camel of his own and added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 camels.

Now, he started reading the deceased father's will.

Half of 18 = 9. So he gave the eldest son 9 camels.
1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave the middle son 6 camels.
1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave the youngest son 2 camels.

Adding this up: 9 plus 6 plus 2 is 17 and this left one camel, which the wise 
man took back.

Moral: The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the 18th camel.

Memorial Day - What Am I Supposed To Remember?

That question is from a movie I watched today called, Memorial Day, starring James Cromwell. On Memorial Day in the United States, we remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in military service.

Calendar-wise, it marks the unofficial start of Summer, and so a lot of folks go to the beach, have barbecues, and so on. Many attend parades to honor those fallen veterans, and others pay their respects at cemeteries and veteran monuments all over the country. Some try to do all of the above.

When I was a kid, I fell more into the beach and barbecue camp. Once I became a veteran, I found myself more and more asking myself, "what am I supposed to remember?" It never came in those words, but those words best capture the sentiment. I've never seen real combat. No one I knew personally (that I'm aware of) ever died in combat. Still, as someone who has served, all soldiers, past, present and future, are my comrades. I don't have to have known them personally, or even tangentially. All that is required is that they took the same oath I did.

I'm not much for parades, so I found myself at Oak Grove Cemetery paying my respects to some one hundred or so World War I veterans from Medford, Massachusetts. My habit as of the last few years is to see if I recognize a last name. It's a small world, so maybe I know one of their descendants. I think I might have today. Even if I didn't, so what?

After watching the movie, I too found myself looking at the "souvenirs" (for lack of a better word) of my time in the military, and more importantly the stories behind them.

While not all Americans are veterans, every American who isn't, knows, is related to, has seen, or is somehow connected to a veteran. These non-veterans may have never though to ask, "what am I supposed to remember?" If they are haven't, one day I pray they will.

Oklahoma Will Be O-K

The tornadoes' wrath across Oklahoma shown in news images of ravaged miles of buildings, reminds me of the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. However, the fury of nature has no person or state to hunt, demonize, or prosecute. I can barely comprehend the vast carnage over such distances, and how those affected will rebuild. Although I know, rebuild they will. 

The courage of the victims, their friends and families and neighbors give me hope of our better nature as Americans, as human beings. Their grace amidst the chaos that seemed to take so many by surprise, is a stark reminder that it can all go to heck in an instance. Every moment is a gift.

Like we often hear after each of these life altering and shattering events, hug your children, tell them you love them. To this I add, hug your family, your neighbor, your friend, your dog, your cat, your fish. Give and receive love.

I pray that the departed are in peace. I pray those left behind continue to persist and persevere and take nothing for granted. I know from the determination in their eyes, and the conviction of their resolve, that the people of Oklahoma will be O-K.

Blackberry Messenger Coming to Android and iOS Devices - This Is Not A Drill!

Yes, it's true. Blackberry Messenger (or BBM to those Blackberry lifers) will be coming to Android and iOS (Apple) mobile devices. This is a win-win for Blackberry and non-Blackberry customers alike, but a real double-edged sword for Blackberry (once RIM). My wife, a long time Blackberry user, is ecstatic. She can finally move from her ailing Blackberry Bold to an iPhone or Android device, while not losing her extensive BBM family.

For Blackberry, it a dicey bet. On one hand, non-Blackberry users will have an incentive to care about Blackberry. However, BBM was the single reason a lot of Blackberry users I know stuck with their Blackberry devices. This puts a lot more pressure on the Blackberry Z10 and Q10 to really meet or beat the value proposition of the iPhone (possibly) and Galaxy Samsung S4 (I'm not optimistic). In all fairness, I have had neither Z10 nor Q10 in hand to determine if they have the right stuff to be and remain competitive.

Still, if Blackberry can find a really easy way to really get the Z10 and Q10 into people hands (like they did at their recent developer's conference in Florida), they may get back in the game in a significant way.

Personally, I've always loved the old school Blackberry Curves with the scroll wheel, track ball, and WAP browser. Heck, I still use one (OS 4.x) as my mobile when I travel internationally. It's as durable as a tank, batteries last forever, and if you're not picky about condition, you can get them on eBay for less than $20 USD.

My falling out with Blackberry was the move to the sleeker, all-black looking, but less durable Curve and Bold models. User experience was lost along the way. Still, I'm excited about the direction Blackberry is moving in, and look forward to road testing the Z10 and Q10.

Four and One

What I've learned:

• Choose your own adventure, or you may find yourself trapped in someone else's
• If history keeps repeating itself, there's something you haven't learned yet
• Acknowledge and respect who you are, and what you are made of
• Memory * Time = (Good | Bad) / Your Attitude
• Playing chess provides rewards beyond checkmate

Charles Ramsey, Keepin' It Real

Charles Ramsey - ABC News Interview

When I first saw pictures of Charles Ramsey, I suspected that the photos were selected because of the way they portrayed him. Still, Chuck made the joke on his would be critics. In spite of his perceived style of "storytelling" or maybe (in my view) because of it, Chuck was able to bring a rarely seen public authenticity and candid insight into issues of race and class in America. In simple and clear language, no less. Plus, Chuck (albeit unintentionally) gave the women he helped rescue, and their families, the privacy they craved. I doubt the media would have freely given such privacy otherwise.

Unfortunately, his most important comments were glossed over, ignored, or eschewed, primarily out of the fear of most of the media being unable to spin it into something other than one man's truth. This type of truth that most of us wouldn't have the courage to utter or hear amongst mixed company, yet alone on live television.

Thanks Chuck, for keepin' it real; from all of us who don't always have the courage to when the situation requires it.

#BostonStrong

I had no doubt.

Why Boston @ 26.2?

For the first time I want to know why.

On 9/11, I knew why.

But right now, I don't know why.

I can't even speculate.

I knew it was within the realm of the possible; few things aren't, but not our Boston Marathon.

Last Saturday, before race Monday, I stood on the START line.

26.2 miles away, my nephew stood on the FINISH line.

This time, I bought no newspapers.

I didn't obsess over CNN.

I didn't flinch at too-close-to-be-normal aircraft.

I took the train as usual.

I gave a nod to the cop I almost walked into after passing through the fare gate.

I watched the national guardsmen on subway platforms.

A part of me wished I still was in uniform.

I listened to the misinformation by the media.

I watched the suspect / bomb threat drama at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse, across the harbor from the building I'm working in.

I am reminded that it did take a decade to get Osama, so while we should be vigilant, we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.

I laughed on the way to South Station as a large brother on a little scooter was blasting hip-hop on Atlantic Avenue.

I heard President Obama and First Lady Obama are coming to Beantown tomorrow for the memorial service.

We won't panic.

We won't turn on each other.

We will continue to live.

We will continue to love.

We will be different, but we will be better.

We will persevere as we have since the Revolution.

We will run the race set before us 'til completion.

"Big companies swallow little ones every day."

This is the opening sentence of an Economist article featuring Nick d'Aloisio, who's start-up, Summly, got bought out by Yahoo. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? The swallowing part, I mean? I wonder if Master d'Aloisio will have to come into the office, or if Yahoo will cut him some slack; at least until he turns 18?

What I Wish We Could Experience In More Companies

I saw this list of team values taped to the wall of a conference room in an engineering department:

• Give and receive constructive feedback.
• Do what you say you will do.
• Be respectful: The delivery is as important as the message.
• The perfect is the enemy of the good, so just ship it!
• Stay interested and interesting.
• Lead through excellence.

The Lesson of the Reed in the Wind

Sometimes things change without your permission.

Are You or Your Company Producing Abandonware?

A new word to add to my vocabulary. I knew the definition before I ever knew of the word.

A-ban-don-ware

Abandonware (per Wikipedia) "is a product, typically a software, ignored by its owner and manufacturer, and for which no product support is available. It is differentiated from a discontinued product because the manufacturer has not issued an official notice of discontinuance, instead, the manufacturer is simply ignoring the product."

Congressional Reaction to Sequestration

"I've never liked sequestrations, and I never will. I can never forgive them, for the death of my fun."

- Senator James T. Kirk

Walking By The Places We've Been

Today I did something I had never done with this blog. I read back through almost five years of entries I found intriguing and didn't necessary recognize by the summary. Seeing the changes in my life as well as in society reminded me that a lot of times in life, we have the answers to our own questions. Often we aren't aware of them, or worse, we discard them because we don't see ourselves a worthy source.

Still, get enough years under one's belt and one eventually returns home. If only for a visit. We walk by the places we've been and the marks we've made, as well as the marks made against us. We think about our choices and how they have affected our lives. We are encouraged by our innate wisdom and tickled by our follies.

The Most Important Thing I Can Tell You Today

Look for the joy in this and every moment. Eventually, you will find it.

Using The MBTA's Rapid Transit App

Having used the Massachusetts rapid transit system (a.k.a the "T"), run by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), for a very long time; I am still amazed and impressed at how quickly technology has come to the transit system. Especially within the last few years. This includes Wi-Fi in Commuter Rail cars, and as of the last couple of months, an app (code name mTicket) that lets Commuter Rail riders purchase electronic tickets. The MBTA plans on providing purchase functionality for other modes of transit in the future.

mTicket is an elegantly designed and simple-to-use app that allows commuters to purchase single, round-trip, or multiple trip commuter rail e-tickets via credit card in advance (or on-board, if you like to cut it close). Once a commuter purchases an e-ticket, the commuter can view the e-ticket and is prompted to activate the purchased e-ticket once on-board. The activated e-ticket shows the ticket zone, and has a button that once clicked, will display the e-ticket's bar code.

My biggest surprise (considering m-Ticket is in its infancy) was that the conductors were all very confortable with me flashing my iPod Touch with the e-ticket displayed. Plus, for those of us whose closest Commuter Rail station requires purchase on-board, you'll save money off the nominal fare.

mTicket is currently available for Apple iOS and Android mobile devices. A Blackberry version is in development.

The Emancipation Proclamation At 150 Years

A happy new year indeed. On this date in 1863, a different United States president hailing from the state of Illinois; Abraham Lincoln, brought forth the Emancipation Proclamation.

What I remember being taught about the Emancipation Proclamation in elementary school was that it freed the slaves and brought a victorious end to the American Civil War for the North (i.e. armies of the Union). While this is not false, it's not the complete picture. Still, it was appropriate for that point in my elementary education.

It wasn't until I read, several years ago, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, did I get a deeper perspective of the Emancipation Proclamation. Most importantly the path to its birth, including the political jousting between President Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

I learned that its purpose was primarily to end a costly war and reunify the fractured United States by defeating the South economically and militarily. More specifically, to end the economic engine of slavery in the South and enlist black men, able and willing to fight, for the the Union army. To expedite this, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves in states that had seceded from the Union were free. Now if you were a black man in 1863, that was a heck of an incentive, considering the alternative.

Without the Emancipation Proclamation and what it brought to pass in the history of the following century, odds are I wouldn't have volunteered for the military, nor I suspect hundreds of thousands of black men over the decades.  I salute you comrades.