Things To Do in 2009 - Let's See

So, I saw this post down the list and thought it was time to see how well I have done. There are two months left.

- Be patient - Working on it and improving. Trying to memorize Proverbs 15:18. I want to be more patient.
- Drink good coffee - yes! Coffeefool.com! You are the best.
- Read Predictably Irrational - Check
- Make time to ride my bike - Nope. Man I wish the Alafia State Park, I miss you.
- Video blog - some. see facebook.com/bryantjohnson
- Spend more time with my dad - did as much as i could. I was very blessed to have the time I did.
- Eat sushi and expand my palette - like twice. It was great. However, my palette still prefers pizza.
- Stop eating fried foods (at least for three months)- this has been easier than I expected. A job well done self.
- Read Disciplines each day - I wish I could say that did. Them problem with it is reading too many books at once.
- Publish materials - Check. GBOD.org.
- Return to the mountains - Check and double check. The smokies are awesome.
- Take another cruise - any venture capitalists want to pay for my wife and I to go? We'll think of a good business plan while we are away.
- Prepare more dinners - I think Tonya and I did do this.
- Date nights with Tonya - Sorry, baby. I wish we were doing more and I think we have done less.

A Jolicloud Review

A few people have asked about Jolicloud and what I think about it, so here's a review. First, i was going to use ScreenToaster to record the review and show you around. But that presents one of the problems I had. Now, it should be said that Jolicloud is in the alpha stage, which means it has a long way to go. The beta stage is when things begin to really get distributed. I think it has a lot of potential.

Back to ScreenToaster, which allows you to record and capture video from your desktop to post and share online, runs on javascript. I never could get js to work or function. From what I can tell (and my knowledge of linux is minimal), it is not supported at this point.

I also ran into a problem with Adobe Air. Not Air itself, but uninstalling applications that run on the Air platform. Most applications within Jolicloud allow you to right click and select remove. But not the Air applications. I was specifically trying out the eBay app. I did find a way to remove the icon, but i really doubt that it removed the app. Again, this may be a issue with my limited knowledge of linux, but when i posted the question in their forums, I never receive and answer detailing how to do this.

The other issue that bothered me was the way some of the web based applications worked. They appear to be built upon a browser, but lack full browser capabilities. I frequently have multiple browser tabs open at once and go back and forth between them. For instance in facebook, rather than clicking and trying to find my way back to the same place in the newsfeed, I open everything inside another tab. At the time, this is not possible in the facebook ap or other web based apps. Of course you can use Firefox or Chrome to have the full featured browser, but then negates the purpose of the app.

The final problem I ran into was with Hulu. In Jolicloud, it seems to run slow for some odd reason. When i boot into XP Hulu runs fine and smooth, but in Jolicloud it is choppy and frequently stops to buffer.

Now, for the good. Jolicloud boots quickly. Without a doubt, it is fast on the load time which I appreciate on a netbook. Less boot time gives me more time to use my netbook. That means I am getting more time actually using it which is important.

I like the way you can install apps. Makes it simple for a newbie to linux to get up and running and have the things they need. Thunderbird for email, two browser options, Open Office for all your document needs, Songbird, Boxee, VLC Media Player and a few others all run natively. It is easy to get up and running with some good solutions to access all that you keep in the cloud.

I wouldn't suggest it for someone who is unsure, but if want to see what will be coming in the future for netbooks, this will give you a good look. I think they are onto something good and I will likely give it another shot once it makes it into beta or a final release. For now I will continue running XP for my main OS and may install Win7 in Joliclouds place.

Thanks.

• I am thankful for God’s grace and love in my life.
• I am thankful for forgiveness.
• I am thankful to have a team of volunteers who in the midst of crisis and at a moments notice are ready to take on all the responsibility.
• I am thankful for volunteers who care about student’s lives.
• I am thankful for volunteers in our youth ministry who place others first.
• I am thankful for all those who commit even just an hour a week of their time so that others may know Christ.
• I am thankful for all the support, cards, and hugs I received when my father passed away.
• I am thankful for student leaders who are concerned about their peers and do all they can to help them come to know Christ.
• I am thankful for parents who care enough to bring their children to church week after week.
• And I am thankful for children who care enough about their parents to bring them to church for the very first time.
• I am thankful for students who text the entire time I am talking and when I ask what was just said, they quote me word for word and expend on the theological indoctrination and the meaning of the original Greek language.
• I am thankful for compliments and criticisms, I am sure there will be some when I am done, that remind me that I am on the right path.
• I am thankful for the staff that function so well as a team, the support each other, and get behind the ministries, goals, and visions of the others.
• I am thankful for the people who notice the little things like a new planted garden, an improved basketball shot (at least that’s what they tell me), and the hard work that goes into outpouring.
• I am thankful for my wife, who sees beyond my deficiencies, to strengthen me.
• I am thankful for my wife who reminds what it means to be beautiful and demonstrates what it means to love.
• I am thankful for Tonya, who is committed to family.
• Most of all, I am thankful for all that God has given me, family, a home, friendship, a companion, food, rainy skies, and the demonstration of his love through a son and for that coming alive in eyes of those who are with me today.