Thinking of Phones

My cellular contract is ending in two weeks and I'm pondering a new phone. The one I have, a Nokia 3600, has served me well, but I'm thinking I might be able to do better. Particularly, I love the built in camera, but at 640×480, I still regret when I only have my phone and not my camera. I don't expect my phone to replace my much more serious digicam (a Sony Cybershot DSC-S75), but I would like it to take printable quality photos if possible. As much as I like the pictures from my Nokia for the fact that without the camera in it I would not have them at all, they are usually less than perfect.

So, for the last six months or so, I've been following the new Nokia N90. It has a Carl Zeiss lens, 2 megapixel CCD, flash, digital zoom, etc. It is in a flip phone form factor, which it uses to provide a twistable viewfinder for the camera. It looks really nice and runs an updated version of the same Symbian OS with Series 60/S60 interface that the 3600 runs. However, three things emerged that dampened my enthusiasm. First, the price is $499 with a two-year contract (it is $799-$999 without). Second, it is supposedly very slow and unresponsive. Third, it is only available for T-Mobile presently.

Ok, so that's not so good. But Nokia has some nice non-flip units in the pipe. I'm not so keen on flip phones anyway, so I've been looking at the N70 and the N80. The N70 is a traditional Nokia “brick” with a 2.0 megapixel CCD but sans the Zeiss lens. The N80 is one of these new slider-style phones with a 3.0 megapixel CCD. The problem is neither of these has yet been picked up by a carrier in the U.S., and when they do, I wonder if they too will be fairly pricey. I'm guessing the N70 might be closer to the $200-$300 range, but that is still a lot of money for a phone. (The N80 is not yet even FCC approved.)

With that in mind, I'm considering either the Nokia 6682 or one of the several Sony Ericsson 1.3 megapixel camera phones (such as the Walkman W600). Sony, like Nokia, uses Symbian, but places the UIQ interface on top of it instead of S60. All of these are in the $0-$200 range, after the incentives that come from reupping a contract with Cingular. My main requirements are that I want a Symbian GSM (preferably with EDGE support) phone, I want it to have as good of camera as possible and I want Bluetooth; I think these phones are the only ones that fit those requirements, but I'll keep searching.

I need to decide: do I bite the bullet with one of these presently available phones or wait a few months and see what comes about concerning the Nokia N-Series phones? I'm leaning toward the latter, but if the prices are astronomical, the wait won't do me much good and perhaps the models I do like wil be unavailable.

Anonymous Posting

Sometimes I wish blogging was a bit more like a forum. There's a few posts I might write if I could post them under a pseudonym or anonymously that I won't or can't post under my real name (yes, in case anyone ever suspected otherwise, I really am Tim Butler). I could start up a second blog, but that wouldn't have the same readers and blogging isn't anything, in my estimation, without the community of other bloggers and readers that comment.

When I use to be on some forums, on occasion I would create an alter ego to ask questions I couldn't have tied to my name. (For instance, I use to post on several web hosting forums and when I went to shop for a new web host, I didn't want my old one to know that I was asking about other hosts.)

For now, I'm stockpiling these entries in case I get a good idea what to do with them. Hmm.

All is Well

The song of the day, from Michael W. Smith's Christmas:

All is well all is well
Angels and men rejoice
For tonight darkness fell
Into the dawn of love's light
Sing A-le
Sing Alleluia
All is well all is well
Let there be peace on earth
Christ is come go and tell
That He is in the manger
Sing A-le
Sing Alleluia

All is well all is well
Lift up your voices and sing
Born is now Emmanuel
Born is our Lord and Savior
Sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia
All is well

Now In Technicolor

Here's a fun little “Color test” that checks… well, it checks something. The first time I tried it, I got 88% of the answers right, and it told me I was “the master.” The second time, I got 100% of the answers right and am still the master. Give it a shot.

Talk About Pressure

I do a fair number of computer service calls, and for the most part, I'm never too worried if I cannot fix things. I try to explain problems as I find them, and that way I do not just come to the client at the end of the job and say, “well, it'd be cheaper to buy a new computer than have me fix this.”

Some jobs, though, there is a lot more pressure to succeed. Yesterday was an example. My dad called me around 10:00 and said his boss was having trouble and wanted to me to do a service call. As it turned out, the networking issue at hand (a small one — this is a small custom cabinet shop, not a place with a bunch of office computers) was solved quickly and I was able to offer some other advice which I felt hopefully merited my pay, but it was a lot of pressure! Normally, if a client wasn't happy they just wouldn't call me back (although that is rare), but in this case, my dad would have to live with an unhappy client.

At times like this, successfully completing a job is especially sweet.

As a side note, it was interesting in another regard. I never imagined that someone as mechanically un-inclined as myself might end up drawing a check from the same company my dad works for. Interesting day, needless to say.

Recuperating

Well, last week was finals week. I had four standard finals, I completed the last 13 verses of a chart that explained the parsing of (in addition to translation of) 1 John 1:1-2:13, and wrapped up a 20 page paper that connects Calvinism with modern Utilitarianism. Plus dealt with a spam problem on my server (yikes!). Phew. Overall, the last stretch of this semester (from the week before Thanksgiving to the end) was lighter weight than last year — 52 pages of papers — although they were more research intensive projects.

I'm now done with Greek for the next year. I hope to figure out a good routine to maintain what I know for when I'll take Advanced Greek Syntax at a seminary, hopefully, in January 2007. It is a relief to have made it through that. If you're looking for a Greek tutor or instructor in St. Louis, you should drop me a note for a referral. For the last semester, I studied one-on-one with a very fine teacher named Robert Wermuth (he taught the Greek I course I took as well, but I was the only Greek II student, so we met at Covenant Theological Seminary instead of LU).

Time

You know it's funny. Time, that is. They always say as you get older, it moves faster, and I can really see that. Time goes too fast. There are so many things I meant to do, so many things I meant to tell people… but times have past for those things.

And then there are interesting times like this week. Part of me wants the week to go by really fast. With finals, a paper and a bunch of Greek translation to do, I cannot wait to get beyond that and get some of the many other things accumulating on my todo-list done. Conversely, I wish the week would go very slowly, so I'd have more time to get all of that stuff done.

Well, either way, it will be what it will be.

64 Questions

These come from Kendall. I think there were a few too many, but some of them were fun. I started answering this on Sunday, so it the breakfast question refers to Sunday morning, but I finished it tonight, so the “last thing I ate” question refers to dinner a week later.

_1. What time did you get up this morning? _
7:11 a.m. (to arrive at church by 8:15 — I was running the projector today.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds, I guess. In reality, that's not something I ponder a whole lot.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
The Incredibles, last December.

4. What's your favorite TV show?
I don't watch anything current, other than CNN (on occasion). Right now, perhaps the Dick van Dyke show is what I am enjoying most, but I Love Lucy is my perennial favorite.

5. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
I actually had breakfast! That's odd. A Sausage, Egg and Cheese biscuit and hashbrown from McDonald's.

6. What's your favorite cuisine?
Tough. I'm a big fan of traditional American foods, such as fried chicken (but not the KFC stuff called that). I really like Mexican, but mostly Americanized Mexican (authentic is tasty, but I typically prefer Taco Bell). I also like Italian and some German stuff as well (bring on the 'kraut!).

7. What foods do you dislike?
Canned tuna (no idea on the fresh stuff), dishes that have lots of ground beef that is not pressed into some kind of patty or loaf (i.e. spaghetti with ground beef in the sauce is questionable, but meat loaf is delicious), etc. There is a bit of a theme here: I don't generally like meats that are heavily shredded, ground, etc.

8. What is favorite chip flavor?
Typically, I prefer “original” (i.e. just salted). If I'm in the mood for a flavor, I usually pick BBQ. I also like dill, pepper jack, and pretty much anything else.

9. What's your favorite CD at the moment?
Well, the two getting the most play at the moment are Fallen by Evanescence and Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith (darkness contrasting against light?). Of course, there are other songs getting significant “play time,” but with the advent of the iTunes Music Store, I don't have the whole albums to go with those.

10. What kind of car do you drive?
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

11. Favorite sandwich?
Probably a smoked turkey sandwich on a hoagie bun, with the works: cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, green peppers, pickles, olives, mayo, chipotle sauce, etc. At Subway, I vary between a Southwest Turkey and Bacon and a Cold Cut Trio, mostly.

12. What characteristics do you despise?
Hypocrisy, backstabbing…

13. What is your favorite type of clothing?
Business casual — golf shirt and micro-fiber slacks (or in the summer, similar styled shorts).

14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Typically not too far: the Ozarks. If I wanted something more exotic… I'm not sure: perhaps a tour of interesting places throughout Europe, ending in Greece.

15. What color is your bathroom?
Forest green (wallpaper).

16. Favorite brand of clothing?
I'm not picky. I seem to get along well with Kohl's private label (Croft & Barrow).

17. Where would you retire to?
Ideally near family and friends (all things presently point to staying put).

18. Favorite time of the day?
The evening.

19.Your most memorable birthday?
The most recent one — it was only two months ago.

20. Where were you born?
St. Charles, MO.

21.Your favorite sport to watch?
Baseball! (I don't watch sports, as a rule, but…)

22. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?
Anyone who lurks on my blog.

23.Person you expect to send it back first?
Someone with too much times on his or her hands?

24. What fabric detergent do you use?
It varies.

25. Are you named after anyone?
Not as far as I know. Unless you count Paul's protege Timothy.

26. Do you wish on stars?
Not really, although sometimes when I see the “first star” it will remind me to pray for something.

27.When did you last cry?
Last night, actually.

28. Do you like your handwriting?
It is kind of sloppy. The only thing that makes me feel better about it is looking at what my handwriting looked like back in middle school or earlier.

29. Are you a daredevil?
Generally, no. I don't mind taking a chance every once-in-a-while, but I'm not a thrill seeker.

30. Are you a virgin?
Yes; and with God's help shall remain one until He sees fit to bless me with a wife. (Is it just me or did this question just come out of the blue?)

31. Do looks matter?
They shouldn't, although they do somewhat. Not as much as other things, though.

32. How do you release anger?
Writing tirades, poetry and other things.

33. Where is your second home?
Table Rock Lake.

34. What were your favorite toys as a child?
Legos, and art-related things.

35. What class in High School was totally useless?
As I was homeschooled, we avoided things that didn't do me any good.

36. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Would I do such a thing — no, not me.

37. Favorite movies?
Tough. Two from last year: the Passion and the Incredibles; Home Alone… others aren't coming to me just now.

38. What are your nicknames?
I don't really have one. Unless you count my old user ids “uninet,” “dpbx52b” (Prodigy), etc. With my one professor I have adopted the handle “K.S.T.” (Kindly Student Tim). Don't worry if that doesn't make sense… it is an inside joke.

39. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Yes, of course (usually).

40. Do you think that you are strong?
Not usually. At times, I get full of myself, until I have to lift something heavy.

41. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Vanilla (with hot fudge) or some kind of fresh berry icecream.

42. What are your favorite colors?
Green and blue.

43. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
My overanalyzing and worrying.

44. Who do you miss the most?
Right now, I guess my grandpa. I really wish he could be around for another Christmas.

45. Do you want everyone you sent this to send it back?
Well, certainly these things are more interesting if others answer them, or at least comment on one's own answers, but this thing is so long, I really don't have an expectations here.

46. What color pants are you wearing?
Plaid (blue and white, to be specific) shorts. I was wearing black slacks.

47. What are you listening to right now?
Not much.

48. Last thing you ate?
Barbecue boneless “ribs.”

49. If you were a CRAYON what color would you be?
Forest green.

50. Last person you talked to on the phone?
A lady from church who called to make an appointment for me to come do a DSL installation.

51. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
I'll answer the same as Kendall did: a smile (or lack thereof), quickly followed by overall demeanor.

52. Favorite Drink?
Water.

53. Do you wear contacts?
No. Although I've been staring at a paper I'm working on so long today, I probably could use something. I was seeing cross eyed as I tried to look through Totem and Taboo for a reference.

54. Favorite Day of the Year?
That's tough. I think, hmm, maybe Christmas Eve.

55. Scary Movies or Happy Endings?
Probably of those two, happy endings, but I consider tragedy the height of drama. This is an odd question since “scary movies” is not the antithesis of “happy endings.” You could have a scary movie with a happy ending…

57. Hugs OR Kisses?
Hugs, as a whole, I guess.

58. What Is Your Favorite Dessert?
Lemon Meringue Pie.

59. What Book(s)Are You Reading?
I just finished The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer in Christian Ethics by Stanley Hauerwas. I'm reading the Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey, the Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth's Theology by Eberhard Busch and a few others I've forgotten (I've been so busy I've not had time to get back to several books in recent times). I was just given a copy of Letters to a Young Catholic by George Weigel, which I hope to read soon.

60. What's On Your Mouse Pad?
A silver Dell logo.

61. What Did You Watch Last night on TV?
I watched an episode of All in the Family. Tonight I watched an episode of Leave it to Beaver.

62. Favorite Smells?
Evergreen, ionized air, potatoes cooking…

63. Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Beatles.

64. What's the furthest you've been from home?
The Olympic National Forest in Washington.

Brief Semi-Hiatus

It is a long story, but for the next few days I'm going to be around, but have spotty internet access. It has nothing to do with anything bad (petty or otherwise) — it is not only a long story, but also not terribly interesting. But, if y'all are wondering where I am, I'm still around. I might try to type up some entries while I'm offline and post them when I'm by a Wi-Fi hot spot in the morning.

Thanksgiving, etc.

It's been a emotionally draining week for reasons I may get to in another post, but that's not why I've been quiet. I've been quiet because I was trying to fix a few weaknesses in SAFARI and managed to break my ability to login to the administration interface. With the week as it was, I didn't feel motivated to fix it, and hence I've just remained locked out… until tonight. I believe that as of now, SAFARI has completely shed its old flat file database self and is completely running of its MySQL database. That has been the major thing I wanted to accomplish before deploying SAFARI for others. This is something I'm very thankful to have done. Speaking of which…

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all.

I was going to make a really nice Thanksgiving post, but I spent my end-of-Thanksgiving-Day time trying to get myself logged back in instead. Maybe I'll do a belated Thanksgiving post tomorrow.