Faking a SmartPhone: iPod Touch, MiFi, and Virgin Mobile

apple-virgin_mobile-truconnectMaybe I’m cheap or maybe I’m frugal, but either way, I’ve found unique ways to keep my world connected for a lot less than most people pay for a monthly smartphone data plan. Granted, it usually involves me carrying more than one device and thus I lose convenience for monetary savings, but the numbers add up enough that it’s worth it. So, without further adieu, I give you the magical formula I use to save money and still stay connected on the go.

Let me be clear: this isn’t for everyone. There are a ton of valid arguments for why having an iPhone or Android smartphone and $60+/month plan is the right fit for you. However, judging by the popularity of Pay-As-You-Go plans, this may fit the bill for those sometimes techies.

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Impressions of London – February 2004

From February 18 through February 23 2004 I had the opportunity to visit London, England through a 3-day British Airways sale: $100 each way in honor of the Wright Brothers. Today, I found a .doc file that I had written and forgotten about for the past 8 years. It was a recap of the trip, the laughs, and the adventure. Below is that text, unedited.

London & Cambridge – U.K.

This is an effort to record my experiences and impressions on the short trip to England. This is just some basic memories to be recorded, followed by a more in-depth look at what I learned in the process.

See, whut had happen’d wuz…

No Guard Changing Ceremony TodayWe got upgraded to 1st class on the way out thanks to my brother getting the ‘hook-up’… I guess being a firefighter has its privileges. There was more space definitely, and a few more freebies (open bar, warm towel, full gift toiletries bag), but the movie selection was the same, and the amount of food was the same, just a little ‘fancier’. I’m not much for lobster, so that didn’t matter… of course, I wouldn’t know, I fell into a cold sweat after the appetizers and had to force myself to sleep and miss out on the rest of the meals… better idea than staring down a toilet for 6 of the 8 hours.

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Why the Kickstarter Project “Clang” Should Fail

As of this writing, the Kickstarter project “Clang” has 10 days left to raise another $153,817 to succeed and take everyone’s money. I hope it never gets there.

Malea by Alaskan DudeThe project has a big name backer in prolific author Neal Stephenson who, to his credit, has been very supportive about the ongoing debate within his Kickstarter comments section regarding the scope and feasibility of what he is trying to create: a true-to-form swordfighting game. Also, the ever growing FAQ for the project has attempted to address many of the concerns and questions by visitors, backers, and doubters. The most recent salvo is over the Kinect Disconnect, which is described in video form through this Penny Arcade video. From almost every standpoint, this project is doing everything right. The project has a well-known individual standing behind a high dollar value goal, they are responsive to questions from the public, transparency about limitations based upon the financial scope is prolific, and the project consistently maintains its character in the face of opponents. It’s respectable, intelligent, and upfront… and you still shouldn’t give them your money.
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Priorities Change: Embrace Them

Balancing Life's Priorities Sometimes life is a balancing act with your priorities and your schedule. It’s funny, people are always saying, “I don’t have enough time to do…” A blogger keyed me in on the idea that it wasn’t about time, but rather about priorities.

What we’re really saying is, I don’t think that is important enough to make part of my day. Imagine it as a list of priorities, and when a friend asks you to go vote for their nonprofit to win a contest (in just a few clicks!), you want to help, but maybe you find it more valuable to finish reading that article on female tropes in video games. For the record, I did both. Maybe you never get to helping your friend, because something else comes up as a good option and inserts itself above the task in your priorities list. The problem that occurs is guilt.

When you want to do something, say ironing, and you have it staring you in the face for a month, taking up space in your bedroom so that you can’t avoid the shame of not doing it, I’m you’re placing unnecessary stress and blame on yourself. It’s not your fault, you just have other priorities that are more important to your overall well-being. You’ll get to it when it’s a more important or pressing issue. Don’t stress about it; you are simply finding the best way to live your life at that exact moment. I should be writing my book rather than writing this blog post right now, but to be able to focus on a book I needed to focus on getting this idea out of my head and into the written word; it was just a higher priority.

Right now, my priorities are my health (exercise, eating well), making my home not feel like a storage room, connecting and helping other entrepreneurs, writing my Kickstarter book, and then dating. There are a ton of other things on my priorities list, but they are all in a clump below these items, and as I remember that it helps me focus and enjoy the time I’m spending each day on the things that not only bring me the most joy, but also hold the largest value for me right now. Maybe it’s short-sighted, but I like to think of it as an opportunity I’m seizing every day.

What are your priorities?

Forget the Rules (ThreeMinuteFiction)

This story was my submission to Round 8 of ThreeMinuteFiction on NPR. The first sentence was given to the writers, and the rest was up to us. Enjoy.

She closed the book, placed it on the table, and finally, decided to walk through the door. The flashbulbs exploded immediately as she crossed the threshold, blinding her eyes to the assembled mob. “Over here,” shouted the crowd, echoing off of the red brick facade of her home. She carefully took a step back, questioning her decision to abandon the memoir, but she had not seen the sun up close since yesterday morning, and she was beginning to feel restless.

A French voice cut through the chorus,“Ms. Reynolds, do you really believe you can compete?”
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Flirting with the Night [NSFW]

The following short story contains adult themes and suggestive writing, though it does not contain sexual intercourse. The story is not recommended for individuals who are not aware or comfortable with the topics of sex, seduction, or intimacy.

She slipped her driver’s license into the slim pocket of her purse, zipping it closed quickly before following the rest of the girls into the club. A few heads turned to stare at the small group as the lights danced across their white dresses. They headed towards the bar to order a new round of drinks, but by the time Meredith joined the group, the predictable batch of guys were already swarming, their wallets open on the counter.

“Hey baby, what can I get you?” Meredith smiled politely and pushed her gentle curls behind her ears. “A cape cod, please.”

“Right away sweetheart.” Her smile dropped away as soon as his gaze turned towards the bar. She hated it when the creeps called her cute nicknames. She already had a name that she liked; why couldn’t they just call her that?

“Thank you,” she said as she grabbed the clear plastic cup from his hand. His lips flexed as he formed a thought, but she spoke again before the sound could escape his lips. “We’re going to go dance. We’ll see you later.” Meredith’s smile grew large as she moved past him and scooped her arm under Sarah’s. The group fell into step behind them, leaving the boys at the bar, unable to decide on their next course of action.
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South by Southwest 2012 Part 3: Personal

This article is part of a 3-part series recapping my experience at South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive 2012. It is split into the following sections: Panels, Parties, and Personal. As a reminder, everyone has a different goal and thus a different experience with SXSW. This is one extrovert’s take on 2012’s conference.

Quick Note: This is going to be personal. Unlike parts 1 and 2, this is a more intimate look into me and my experience. For some background, I attended as a single, 32 year old male extrovert without anything to pitch and no goals other than to have a good time and try and learn something new.

Thank You
South by Southwest 2012 would not have been what it was (in a good way) without some fantastic people who added to my experience in one way or another:

  • Rose Mary – My host; It’s her world, I just visited for a while and tried and keep up.
  • Shelby – My party buddy. Another local Austin resident, I simply pointed her in the right direction at her first SXSW and she rocked all on her own.
  • Jacqueline & Dana – Hosts at the SapientNitro party, consummate people watchers, and seekers of 2am street food. Oh, and an incredibly smart and talented Art Director and Copywriter, respectively.
  • SouthByFreeNOMS – Never met him/her in person, but without them, I would have been very very hungry (or actually had to pay money for food).

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