http://blog.nathanmsmith.com/index.php http://blog.nathanmsmith.com/index.php?entry=entry100301-221254
I previously had an HTC Snap Smartphone. I asked the sales representative who sold the Boost BlackBerry Curve to me, "Why on earth would Sprint (who owns Boost) offer this plan for $40-$50 less on Boost then on Sprint?" I figured out the caveats on my own.

Here's the scoop: Sprint stepped down the speed from EVDO Rev.0 to EVDO Rev.A, which means although technically it's "3G", It's much slower than using a BlackBerry Curve 3300 with Sprint on a contract. The browser is noticeably more slow then what I was used to. Secondly, the Boost Mobile version will not roam on other CDMA carriers (Verizon Wireless) which significantly cuts down the coverage areas, especially rural areas.

Boost Mobile was also unable to port my phone number from Sprint. Strange since they run on the same Sprint CDMA network. The customer service rep chalked it up to a systems limitation. I gently reminded him of the FCC mandate that all wireless carriers must comply with porting requests. He seemed to be unconcerned. So I have a new phone number.

I also wish Boost Mobile would have other BlackBerry plans - like a 1000 minute/unlimited data plan for $40, since I don't talk on the phone that much and don't really need unlimited minutes.

Overall, the BlackBerry Curve 3300 device itself is great. It's intuitive, great for messaging, and easy to type with. The battery life is excellent. The $60/month plan is fair despite Boost Mobile (Sprint) crippling bandwidth and roaming capabilities.]]> http://blog.nathanmsmith.com/index.php?entry=entry090807-162818 Desktop PC

Windows XP SP 3 is the winner because of it's ease of use, wide adoption, and most desktop applications are made to run on Windows. Avoid Windows Vista, it's still a nightmare.

Desktop PC Alternative

Xandros is the winner because of it's compatibility with Windows applications, and out of the box support for common video codecs including Windows Media. The omission of Mac OS here IS intentional.

Servers

CentOS is the winner because of it's low cost, and ease of use. CentOS avoids all the downfalls of RedHat, and other linux distributions. UNIX derivations are and will continue to run the "Internet", and aren't too bad for SOHO LAN use either.

Mobile

Windows Mobile 6.1, because of it's support of a large variety of applications and hands down for it's support of ActiveSync & Microsoft Exchange protocols. Instant synchronization of calendar, email, and tasks with multiple devices including the PC make it the winner. Close seconds include the Palm WebOS, iPhone O/S, and BlackBerry O/S both because of their user friendliness. However both are costly. Symbian, & Android, intentionally omitted.

Embedded

Toss up between Windows CE, Windows XP Embedded, and Linux. Most of the time users aren't even aware of what embedded OS is on their in-dash navigation system, portable GPS, MP3 player, Thin Client, Picture Frame, Refrigerator, whatever the case may be. Embedded operating systems are usually taylor made for the hardware and more stable then their desktop counterparts. It's purely the manufacturers preference and opinion of which OS performs well and saves the most money.

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The HTC snap is likable and user friendly. It has a wonderful thin profile and full qwerty keyboard that is easy to use similar to BlackBerry devices. It comes with Windows 6.1 and is a "snap" to operate. The user interface makes navigation quick and painless.

Integrated Microsoft Voice Command is just plain too cool and is a feature that the sister "Ozone" product for Verizon doesn't have. Voice Command is very Star Trek, like talking to the ship's computer. You can say stuff like call John Doe on Mobile, and it's reads back the name and completes the call. It's also handy to check the battery level and signal strength and have it read back to you.

The only missing feature is WIFI. I get the feeling Sprint requested that WIFI be removed since the GSM and CDMA cousins of the HTC Snap include WIFI. I'm guessing this is because of abuse of the WMWIFIROUTER program to use Windows Mobile phones as Wifi Routers that teather onto the cellular network. This I think is a big mistake because users can use WIFI networks as an alternative to the cellular network and in the long run, having WIFI ability probably lowers overall data usage on the cellular network.
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In discussing my hobbies, and what I do, that fact I had a career in computers, and still have a hobby of building websites with a dash of programming and tinkering here and there. The doctor seemed to think I was a bit of an Internet/computer addict. Although, he didn't use those exact words. I thought that was a bit presumptuous - it was like a collection of symptoms... overweight male, uses a computer ... must be an addict.

I did my research. The American Psychological Association does not recognize computer overuse, or "internet addiction" as an illness. The term "internet addition" was hot in the late 1990's with Television Stories on the subject. However the A.P.A. attributes overuse of the Internet with other compulsions - basically saying that Internet Addiction is not a distinct compulsion of it's own.

In fact, yeah, I've thought about it. The Internet has contributed to my overall knowledge and personal enrichment, more than it has aided me in avoiding society. I am who I am regardless of the existence of the Internet. I've used the Internet more for the obtainment of knowledge, then for any other use. Heck, I even finished up my Bachelor's Degree using an accredited online program.

The reason I say "avoidance of society" is that I had an extensive psychoanalysis that revealed I have a Schizoid Personality. Something that sounds pretty scary but, it's not. It's basically someone who is intelligent, prefers to be alone and work alone, avoids relationships, and has intense creativity and creative problem solving skills. Remember Lt. Reginald Barclay from Star Trek: NG ("Hollow Pursuits"), and Also ST: Voyager? He's the classic Schizoid Personality, almost textbook from the DSM-IV.

So I threw that out there to the Doctor, listen I'm a Schizoid Personality Type. and he says... well that can change. Hah, typical of the other 99% of the world that is "hung up" on humans as social animals. Personalities don't change on their own. Why is it YOU expect ME to be like YOU?]]> http://blog.nathanmsmith.com/index.php?entry=entry090613-172613 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/ ... 4783.shtml - Pediatricians Tackle Bullying.

CBS cited an interesting study that "found 60 percent of bullies in grades 6 through 9 had at least one criminal conviction by age 24."

I think that fact that the schoolyard bully ends up a criminal in Adult life, isn't a surprise, after all it's well established that bullies themselves are usually the victims of abuse at home.

Getting to the root and solving the whole bully-bullied issue at an early age would probably stand to benefit both types of children as Adults, and spare the criminal justice system more statistics. After all the bullied children can really and truly suffer a lifetime of emotional (and is some instances physical) damage.

I can remember back in High School, a bully taking me and some friends on in the lunchroom asking us the give up a table. The principal was quick to act - and stunned me by his reaction. More or less he blamed us (the bullied ones) for the problem and said, sit someplace else.

Bullying it appears is still as big a problem today and school administrators (and resource officers where available) need to closely monitor and address the problem. I understand that administrators are overwhelmed by the task of monitoring so many children but, still this is not an excuse.
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My projects are more or less a hobby and not a business since it's about a break even on hosting charges versus revenue (aka no income).

Anyways, I did some massive cleanup, and I cleaned a little bit too much up, and choked Apache (the web server process), and had to correct the bits and pieces it was looking for the start up. I also dropped a block of 8 IP addresses, that I was being billed for. (Monetary consolidation there).

All is well and should be running slightly more efficiently now. Anywho, If you notice anything broken let me know. ]]> http://blog.nathanmsmith.com/index.php?entry=entry090521-184553
My point being to Democrats - You're in power - for a reason. Cheney has a right to his opinion about "enemy combatants", P.O.W.s or whatever we call them. Criticize the man's opinions - not his right to speak.

I think G.I.T.M.O. should be closed, each individual needs a fair and impartial trial. We are Americans we don't lock up humans without evidence. On the other hand there are bad people there who deserve punishment.

Nate


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Undoubtedly many Americans who saw the film probably came away with the feeling of wow - "Those poor people in India." I on the other hand am a person when tends to believe in one human race, and one human society. The story has some truisms that exist across borders, societies, and ethnic backgrounds. Those are:

1. Rich people don't want to see other people get rich. The evil TV host who tried to setup our hero who "rose up from the slums" himself is the example. Rich people think they are divinely blessed (literally in the caste system of Hinduism) and are better than the rest of humanity, aka. "It is written". If they are not religious then they tend to think of themselves as diving beings (self worshiping). I'm not a communist but, I tend to think that this attitude is what hinders the global economy from growing.

2. Poverty begets crime. Those who aren't born into privilege are resentful and feel entitled to either cheat the system or outright steal from others. There are people who are born into poverty who are the ultimate achievers (Oprah Winfrey for one), because they have the self confidence to know that anyone can succeed if they have the will and desire.

3. Discrimination based on religion, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, perceptions, or any factor, exists and will always exist. Our hero in this case was Muslim living in a Hindu country. Yes, discrimination exists but, it's a crutch. If you live in a society where you feel you are being discriminated against - chances are what you perceive is less that what is reality. (Again hitting home the point that anyone can succeed.)

That's my two rupees worth. ]]> http://blog.nathanmsmith.com/index.php?entry=entry090509-012959
Wordpress, the blogging software I had installed before, is a resource hog. Especially with plugins and the new version does not support MYSQL < v4.0, and I'm not about to upgrade, sorry. I have too many other projects that might not like the upgrade. My main Linux/php/mysql server at Tera-Byte in Edmonton is doggy the way it is. Ensim virtual servers are doggy by nature.

I went with Simple PHP Blog, which is elegant in it's simplicity and uses a flat file database. I promise to bring you some hard hitting blogs, and interesting insights into my life without invading my privacy too much. I not exactly one of those paranoid people who are afraid of posting anything publically on the net. If someone wants to find you they can find you no matter what, eh?

Nate]]> http://blog.nathanmsmith.com/index.php?entry=entry080508-233955
Analysts are calling the surge in incarceration as a result of “tougher” sentences and the scaling back of probation and parole. But, I believe at least part of the surge is a result of technology used in crime fighting efforts.

There are a number of new crimes that have been occurring since the Internet hit big in the 1990’s, including child pornography, online stalking and bullying, phishing, spamming, to name a few. Given the traceability of Internet crimes, many unsophisticated criminals are leading law enforcement right to their doorstep.

The Internet has also increased access to information with such details as how to make bombs, or creating a batch of meth. Which isn’t to say that easy access to information is overall a bad thing - it’s not.

Meanwhile, forensic technology innovations such as DNA analysis have been advancing crime solving rates which means more people are getting caught. The massive increase in video surveillance and lower costs of video technology have also been catching the bad guys.

However, I believe that the increase in prison population is not something criminal justice professionals or our government should be proud of. There are many glaring problems which have also contributed to increase in prison population.

The top problem is that since the closure of many state mental health institutions in the 1980’s, many people with mental health problems have resurfaced in correctional institutions. The majority of correctional facilities are unable to address or treat those with mental health problems.

The lack of available health care, housing, and education for low income individuals is also a problem. Some offenders have committed crimes either to survive or to intentionally enter correctional facilities for housing, food, and health care.

Also, consider that the majority of those who are in correctional institutions are there because of drug related offenses. In the U.S. we consider drug addiction a mental health and medical problem while at the same time criminalizing drug use. This has a major impact on the overall increase in prison population. Other countries see the drug addition problem strictly as a mental health and medical issue and provide treatment without incarceration.

Along side of these problems there has been a general “get tough on criminals” attitude that has swept the nation. Common statutory offenses like skipping out on child support payments is landing more and more people in jail as the public has elected and empowered judges to be more tough.
The goal of the criminal justice and correctional systems should always be rehabilitate and give offenders the tools to live a normal life while giving the safety of the public and victims of crime priority. ]]>