How does Sprint's Mobile Broadband service perform in Austin? Is it worth a twenty-four month commitment totaling over $1500?

In an effort to answer this question, here's a summary of my experiences & observations during this first month of going mobile.

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After years of working out of an office & local cafes with WiFi, I've been jonesing for the ability to do my web work anywhere; especially under a shady tree in the park. I love loving my work. So, after comparing the only cellular broadband options available here in Austin TX (just two: Verizon & Sprint), I just picked up a cellular broadband internet card & plan with Sprint.

Here's my initial speed report using SpeakEasy's Speed Test...

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Texas' premier Ruby Conference web site is now officially live.

The site is powered by RadiantCMS running on two Mongrels balanced by Nginx.

There's not much info yet, just a pre-registration form to help the plan the event. Plan to come on down to the Ruby Conference in Austin. It might actually drop under 100-degrees by September 7th!

Ruby programmers in Austin have a new face of organization & connection.

Now is the time for programmers to stand up for what is good & true in the internet world today!

The guts are a trendy full-stack-HTTP set-up, running Mephisto as a cluster of Mongrels.

The design was inspired by the beauty of the ruby, and love of edible brown things, like cacao & coffee.

Here are the rough notes and PDF of my presentation to the Austin on Rails group last night.

Keynote PDF: Web Apps that Mesh

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Which one is right for your Rails application?

In RMagick vs MiniMagick I will compare various aspects of these two Ruby image processing libraries.

Especially poignant if your app will be deployed in a shared hosting environment, save some brain-aches by weighing their differences before your code hits resource limits.

I'll be making this lightening presentation at Tuesday's Austin on Rails meeting.

Presentation (exported from Keynote): RMagick vs MiniMagick (PDF)

I just attended the world premier screening of the cutting new documentary OilCrash at the Austin Convention Center.

Tagged Official Selection for the SXSW Film Festival, this timely, brazenly honest tale of our world's petroleum addiction touches everyone who sees it.

So, go get smacked over the head with the knowledge. There are two more screenings this week. See the trailer & schedule of showtimes.

For post-screening affected Austin locals, Crude Awakening is a community "dedicated to learning about the coming worldwide oil production peak, its timing, potential consequences and the preparations needed to reduce its impact." They host monthly meetings in sync with United Oil Awareness Meetup Day.

In the spirit of Ruby's & Rails' blossoming community of open-source developers, these meetings are free to attend & open to all.

There are different levels & types of people involved, but of course the more prevalent & outspoken tend to be the more confident & experienced developers (though this is less true for the Rails group).

There are two different groups...

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I am now one step closer to bicycle independence:

Today, I serendipitously acquired a used Yakima Big Tow bicycle trailer from a mechanic at Jack & Adams, an Austin local bicycle shop right next to Zilker Park.

This previously-owned Big Tow did not come with the waterproof cargo bag; crafting ways to secure and weatherproof (when needed) my cargo will be an immediate project.

This bike trailer finally lets me move our 5-gallon refillable water containers (for purified drinking water) without a petrol-powered car.

Certainly many uses will arise and instill confidence in me toward the impending sale of my car. Anybody want to buy an excellent condition 2001 Mistubishi Montero Sport Limited?

The new Whole Foods world headquarters [a.k.a. the Landmark Store] opened practically around the corner from my home & office two days ago. It's been under construction for almost two years.

The place is a landmark of our capitalistic world, with amazing variety & abundance of the best life-sustaining warez our world has to offer.

The crowds are quite frenzied over there right now, especially around lunch time, which was a high traffic time for the old 6th Street store anyway.

Here's Mars' Top Ten List of the New Whole Foods props:

1. raw, living foods mini-restuarant
2. a chocolate fountain
3. micro-roasted bulk coffee (roasted in 5lb batches before your eyes, BZZZZ)
4. expansive roof-top terrace with integrated rain-collection
5. you can drink yerself tipsy while shopping
6. an entire isle dedicated to refillable bottled water, RO [reverse osmosis] & DI [de-ionized]
7. sushi bar!
8. dumb-waiter to get your goods down to the triple-decker, underground parking garage (I have yet to use it. I'm always on my bike!)
9. free WiFi
10. the sweet Austin atmosphere

Related: Whole Foods Market company site & "Whole Foods" @ Google News.

A crystalline top begins forming upon the [upside-down] stalactite Frost Tower at 4th & Congress.