My "had an iPad for 8 days" review of apps that are must haves ...

Yeah, I know ... somebody is late to the party ... also, seriously, 8 days?

It surprises people that as a versed IT consultant, geek, academic and self-confessed gadget junky that I didn’t buy the first or even second generation iPad.

The initial release just didn't do it for me ... basically, it was an iPhone in a larger format and without the phone function. The second gen version, once again, failed to add any real argument for buying it. In fact, Android tablets have been making a far better argument for the tablet over the notebook.

That said, a friend gave me his iPad 2 to use for just over a week. I am now about to purchase one.

Let's take a step back.

It started because I decided that against every fibre of my well nurtured and refined bibliophilia, I would invest in a handful of electronic books. I would never consider this for anything that was for the purposes of enjoyable and relaxed reading, but three volumes that I would almost exclusively utilise as reference materials were a good start.

The initial issues in regards to portability and the are-you-fracking-kidding-me software licensing and DRM restrictions aside, the inability to utilise and transport the files via my mobile (Android based) was getting too much, which is why Peter stepped in and offered me the iPad and the small army of applications that have grown around the concept of eBook reading and interaction.

Some of the frustrations are still with the aforementioned stupidity around trying to lock down the use to a point of the ludicrous (e.g. Cengage claiming that the ability to annotate digital editions makes derivative works possible, and is thus an infringement of their copyright) and I am still wary of that. There are also some things with the iPad itself that makes no sense to me - like the keyboard. Seriously? No cursor keys? What's with that? Why can't we replace the keyboard app? Most of the other things I could deal with ... but that keyboard was really starting to shit me.

Anyway ....

8 days was enough time to play with the device in full anger. I used it as my primary device throughout that time - and it really did become something that I could foresee filling the gap between my laptop and my phone. Further, I could see it actually taking over certain areas that I traditionally delegated to the laptop, such as researching papers, dissertations and other such materials.

So in 8 day a few apps did become part of my "I know I won't be living without" list ... this is them, and why.

First of all, the must have cloud apps:

• Evernote; Note taking and synchronisation manager.
• Dropbox; Cloud storage
• SugarSync; Cloud storage
• xmarks; bookmark synchronisation
• The google suite; Search, eMail, Calendar, docs, etc

... all are available under the iPad and all are must haves across any device. Period.

Flipboard – Pull in your Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, News and Instagram feeds and turn them into a beautiful Magazine-style format to feed your mind and your eyes. It's so brilliantly simple, it makes you wonder why no one thought of it earlier.

Goodreader - It turns out to be a really super flexible and robust PDF reader with rome really nice and advanced reading, annotating, markup and highlighting capabilities. The file manager, text editor, audio/video player, Safari-like viewer for Office documents were useful - but ugly as sin. However, it syncs with Google Docs, MobileMe, Dropbox and can browse the local network and my QNAP NAS store meant that it had a lot of value. An alternative I have been recommended is ReaddleDocs for iPad which is basically the same thing - but prettier. So, I have sent an email to both developers. Who's going to support Adobe Digital Edition eBooks first?

As for plain old useful eBook reader? BlueFire fit the bill nicely by organizing eBooks from libraries, independent bookstores and retailers into a single reading environment. It supports all current eBook standards (including the headache inducing ADE) and it was simple, efficient and I must say the support is outstanding with an enquiry regarding bookmark synchronisation and exporting answered in 12 hours with a "we are working on synchronisation for the next releae". Another simple reader was Overdrive Media Console, which also offered a multimedia capability and access to various eBook sources.

As I said, there is plenty of eReading apps. The only problem is where can I get the best price for a book? I couldn't figure out if there was a way to add the Google Books, Kobo, eBooks.com or bookdepository stores into most of the apps ... Maybe I'll send them all feature requests ...

WolframAlpha - When you need stuff that is comptational in nature, then Google is no longer the engine to turn to. For scientific data, mathematical equations, diagrams and more it has to be the Wolfram.

PubGet - One of the things I was evaluating was the ability to do research. Pubget delivers full text journal articles and allows you to read them as PDFs from collections such as PubMed, ArXiv, JSTOR, IEEE and more.

The Elements - If you think you've seen the periodic table, think again. The Elements: A Visual Exploration lets you experience the building blocks of our universe in a way you've never seen before. (Check out the video).

So ... my next taks are to see about matching the Android apps I have to the iOS ... and to not get myself trapped in a never ending draw something match off or have the night slip away as I battle titans in Infinity Blade.

Meanwhile - if you have any "must have apps" let me know.

I think this is why we never reach a state of equality.

They ask for equality but mean equity whilst others shout louder demanding entitled emolument for past wrongs all the while the rift expands between those that want it to be fair and equal, those that want reprisal and those that want the status quo further fracturing the argument and causing even more conflict than was originally in place.

[Reposted from xntrek]

The perfect job ...

I mean other than “paid a ludicrous amount of money to simply make up the numbers whilst having no requirements, deliverables or responsibilities” Is there such a thing?

What would yours be?

I don’t even know if mine would exist.

The things I am good at are things that seem to be things that people don’t seem to hunt. Like deductive reasoning, right-brain left-field thinking and being an all round goofball who just happens to think differently enough to see things in a way no one else around me seems to. I seem to be able to Identify synergies and make connections between seemingly disparate pieces of information. 

But there’s no call for a “brilliant thinker” on the job boards.

The things I enjoy and am passionate about are seemingly diametrically juxtaposed in the work force.

Teaching, consulting, agriculture, food, technology.

How do I even start to combine these into a job?

Let alone one that can pay the mortgages?

 

[Reposted from xntrek]

A friendly reminder ...

Just a reminder PLEASE do not give small living things as gifts for xmas.

They may seem cute and you may get squeals of delight, but the novelty will inevitably wear off.

Next thing you know, they go feral and start congregating in packs in the park, around alleyways or near shopping centres.

Remember children are for life, not just for xmas!

[Reposted from xntrek]

My year in review ...

So, it's the end of another year and this one has been a full one. 

After all the heartaches and mess I went through over the last few years of the noughties, the hectic pace of this year has been welcome, even if it hasn't always been smooth sailing.

Of course, the predominant part of my year was enveloped in the agricultural studies and activities which I have detailed in a seperate review.   

From a personal point of view, it's been full of ups and downs.

This year we moved from our wonderful and recently renovated home in Narre Warren and put it up for sale just as the housing market dropped ... and Ingrid was made redundant. We recovered from the latter, but, the house has been sitting there, waiting for the right people to come, fall in love with it and afford to pay for it.

Moving into a rental home on the complete opposite side of Melbourne has been interesting. The house is older, smaller and less energy efficient than the one we left. That said, it is closer to the CBD, school campuses and to the property which has allowed me to travel less for work and study and allow me to be more poroactive with the landcare groups.

On the downside, we lost our dear four legged companion of eleven years. Biscuit was a much loved member of our family, and the shock of losing him so unexpectedly was quite jarring. 

Healthwise, I have been more stable. Whilst being drug dependant for my mental stability is not ideal, I'd rather that and not the alternative. My weight has suffered due to the increased levels of arse-on-seat-edness that this year has brought, but I am hoping to change that in the coming year as I kick off the range of activities that are needed to be completed.

We took on an architect and working through the process have a passive, autonomous  eco home designed and submitted to the planning office for approval. The house is just so us - whimsical, elegant and eccentric all in one. We're both very excited by the project ... but until the house sells, it is already starting to be a financial strain on top of the other financial commitments and we may find ourselves delaying the next part of the process due to a simple lack of cash flow.

Whilst I have chosen to take on all of the study, projects and activities that have been keeping me busy, I do miss and regret the lack of social interaction with both those I have shared my life with locally and abroad. There are so many people I interacted with online who's lives are hidden from me due to my lack of time to keep up whilst locally, the same story is repeated as work, study, homework, commitee meetings and all round business wipes out any semblance of spare time.

Overall, all said and done, I'd have to say the year has treated me well. After the last few years, it's a very nice change.

So, all in all, a good 2011.

I look forward to an even better 2012!

[Reposted from xntrek]

My year in review ...

So, it's the end of another year and this one has been a full one. 

After all the heartaches and mess I went through over the last few years of the noughties, the hectic pace of this year has been welcome, even if it hasn't always been smooth sailing.

Of course, the predominant part of my year was enveloped in the agricultural studies and activities which I have detailed in a seperate review.   

From a personal point of view, it's been full of ups and downs.

This year we moved from our wonderful and recently renovated home in Narre Warren and put it up for sale just as the housing market dropped ... and Ingrid was made redundant. We recovered from the latter, but, the house has been sitting there, waiting for the right people to come, fall in love with it and afford to pay for it.

Moving into a rental home on the complete opposite side of Melbourne has been interesting. The house is older, smaller and less energy efficient than the one we left. That said, it is closer to the CBD, school campuses and to the property which has allowed me to travel less for work and study and allow me to be more poroactive with the landcare groups.

On the downside, we lost our dear four legged companion of eleven years. Biscuit was a much loved member of our family, and the shock of losing him so unexpectedly was quite jarring. 

Healthwise, I have been more stable. Whilst being drug dependant for my mental stability is not ideal, I'd rather that and not the alternative. My weight has suffered due to the increased levels of arse-on-seat-edness that this year has brought, but I am hoping to change that in the coming year as I kick off the range of activities that are needed to be completed.

We took on an architect and working through the process have a passive, autonomous  eco home designed and submitted to the planning office for approval. The house is just so us - whimsical, elegant and eccentric all in one. We're both very excited by the project ... but until the house sells, it is already starting to be a financial strain on top of the other financial commitments and we may find ourselves delaying the next part of the process due to a simple lack of cash flow.

Whilst I have chosen to take on all of the study, projects and activities that have been keeping me busy, I do miss and regret the lack of social interaction with both those I have shared my life with locally and abroad. There are so many people I interacted with online who's lives are hidden from me due to my lack of time to keep up whilst locally, the same story is repeated as work, study, homework, commitee meetings and all round business wipes out any semblance of spare time.

Overall, all said and done, I'd have to say the year has treated me well. After the last few years, it's a very nice change.

So, all in all, a good 2011.

I look forward to an even better 2012!

[Reposted from xntrek]

Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank ...

Give a man a bank and he can rob the world.

My people are not commited to being bright ...

[Reposted from xntrek]

I have calendars for everything ...

 This is what my outside-of-work life looks like from the view of my assessment commitments ... 

Someone tell me again what I was thinking when I took all of this on?

[Reposted from xntrek]

Vegan Agendas?

I was pointed to a blog today via twitter entitled "The Hidden Vegan Agenda"

In the post the author states that: 

People say “veganism has a hidden agenda.”

Every aspect of animal consumption and slaughter takes place with a hidden agenda.

and then promptly goes into a full page tirade of the evil of meat production and consumption before concluding with the enlightened gem of

“Contrast this with eating a plant-based diet. There is nothing hidden about veganism. Everything we grow, everything we eat and discuss, is quite literally out in the open with anyone at any age”

Which is all very well and good, except the fact that it's a blinkered view.  It blinkers the fact that plants are alive and have feelings – they have been recorded playing, and have been proven to have personalities and reactions – however, since they do not walk around, nor scream, nor even perform in a timeline that is along our own – it’s not a factor, is it?

Here’s the truth. Life eats life.

At the end of the day, all life consumes life. There is no exception. You are choosing a ethimoral stance based on the fact that food looked back at you – fine, no problem. But do not ever compare the wilful torture and torment of an animal at the hands of a psychopath-in-training to the humnane and ethical treatment of farm animals. Otherwise I may have to compare the Vegan manifesto in the same sentence as the Aryan charter.

The question of “Agenda” is that many people utilise emotive half-truths and clouded arguments rather than a truly objective, factual and reasoned argument.

Often, Vegans attack an industry or practice under the guise of the humane treatment of animalsand yet, will not be satisified until the entire industry is shut down. Hardly an argument for not having an agenda.

As for hiding the animals to food relationship – no farmers do that. That is an issue that is firmly the domain of those who are too superior to go out into the country and spend time learning about their food and the true practices of the farmers.

Humans are omnivores. It is the way we are gentically created. The “perfect” diet for us is one of 75% plant based and 25% meat based. This is true for all primate ape species – us, gorillas, chimpanzees.

Certain things may be choices – but do not turn it into a holy war.

 

[Reposted from xntrek]

New element Discovery: Cs

A new Trace Element was discovered today - Common Sense (Cs) has been part of the human psyche and mythology throughout history, but proof of it's existence has long been debated. However, thanks to the work of scientists and particle acceleration based elctron spectroscopy, scientists have been able to find the rare element.

Unlike many other elements, Cs cannot exist beyond a single ppm of an object. The scientific team that made the historic discovery, Wundaer, Aldoe & Herzfott, discovered that they were able to determine the measure of the deficiency of Cs by bombarding an object with a short lived synthetic element Ss (affectionately called "the Stupids") and determining the uptake amount.

This measurement is referred to as the number of WAHs.

As one WAH is equivalent to one part per billion, it has created the common misconception of the absence of the Cs element.

A common Human being, for example, is said to have a Cs deficiency of between 3 to 12 WAHs.

More research is planned and government grants are being sought to determine public benefits to the research.

[Reposted from xntrek]

TED Talk : What we learned from 5 million books

An extremely entertaining talk by Erez Lieberman Aiden and Jean-Baptiste Michel who show us how playing with Google Labs' NGram Viewer is an addictive tool that lets you search for words and ideas in a database of 5 million books from across centuries and a few of the surprising things we can learn from 500 billion words.

[Reposted from xntrek]

Eugenics influenced Melbourne ...

Eugenics was the political correctness of it's times in the 1920s and 30s before it came out of style with WW2 and the holocaust. It still helped shape the socioecopolitical environment though ...

Victoria's first director of education, Frank Tate, a eugenicist, adopted many of [Richard] Berry's ideas. Tate supported a multi-streamed system of secondary education in which students at the age of 12 would be funnelled into vocational or academic schools.

In Victoria, a system of technical schools was established mainly in the northern and western suburbs in the 1920s. This was because Tate believed that the working class was genetically fit for a vocational education, but not an academic one. As his friend Berry said, ''You can't put a brain where there isn't one.''

The Age : A theory out of the darkness

[Reposted from xntrek]

RIP BISCUIT

See the full gallery on Posterous

09.10.2000 - 07.09.2011

In our hearts and in our arms from the beginning to the very end.

He was loved and he will forever be missed though never absent from our hearts or thoughts.

[Reposted from xntrek]

Furry shaped heart strings ...

Biscuit, our little eleven year old Persian is very sick. He was very lethargic, hadn't eaten or drunk anything in a few days and has lost over 700grams. When we saw the the vet today at 5pm, he tells us that he thinks it's likely kidney failure or something else just as serious that has a rapid onset and that Biscuit has a 50/50 chance of not surviving the next few days ...

I already was not coping with that news too well.

Then over the course of this evening - he got worse. He kept losing strength until he couldn't walk and then he started twitching ... a sign of possible convulsions and the horrors that such a condition brings. So we took him down to the Emergency Animal Vet Hospital where he is checked in and spending the night while they drip fluids into him and run further blood tests.

We are hoping to give him a fighting chance, and we are hoping he has what it takes to pick up ... but I have to prepare myself that he isn't coming out of this.

I don't want to put him down, but I don't want him to suffer either. 

Knowing where that line rests is just as painful as seeing him deteriorate so quickly in just a few days.

 

[Reposted from xntrek]

So the wheel turns ...

This is our home. It was our first. It was our marriage certificate and it was our anchor. For over a decade it has been much more than just a shelter.

Next week will see it becoming the stepping stone to our continued tree change project and hopefully it will also be the beginning of someone else's dream as it goes onto the market ...

[Reposted from xntrek]

Men beware: HDS could strike you!

From the "things wot at lunch I learns" category:

44 year old men, in particular, are "most at risk" to succumbing to a new social disease that is spreading across the country ... and you'll never guess who the carriers are!

[Reposted from xntrek]

I'm a butterfly!

[Reposted from xntrek]

The war of the grasses

See the full gallery on Posterous

I hope that my lawn growing skills transfer over to pasture growing because Damn! I need serious hardware to tackle this thing, like a solid metal brushcutter!

[Reposted from xntrek]

I'm not sure I want to shop here ...

[Reposted from xntrek]