Molecularist

Every time I go through a US airport I am reminded how much farther the government has to go to return to reality. Ok, so there are no more armed soldiers at the x-ray machines (as if even that was reassuring). But that they are still making people take off their shoes is stupid (it always was, and I hate walking in my socks in a filthy airport, ew). I almost expect that after the Madrid tragedy the US will start to confiscate mobile phones, much like they started confiscating nail clippers and can openers (lethal indeed).

The government is still pushing the fear buttons of Americans. The shoe scan is a clear example of a placebo that in the end serves no purpose and actually can be harmful through promoting an unfounded feeling of security.

I’m old enough to remember Beirut, Locherbie, and other horrors of the 70’s and 80’s. Bush and his cronies want up to think this is all new. They have built it all up to serve as an excuse to blow things up and not have to actually run the nation.

If someone wanted to wreak havoc, they’ll find a way. You can’t create a foolproof system – it’s a numbers game. Let’s focus on lessening the hate in the world, rather than fanning a few flames out of control.

Posted in a waiting lounge at JFK, from my Nokia 6600. Be glad my thumbs have kept me from a real rant.

PS I managed to skip the shoe inspection leaving Atlanta and leaving NYC. My little form of protest.
PPS Someone asked me what I thought of the ‘cavity search’ at the airports. I think the guy also wants to move to Finland. 😉
PPPS Another pal enlightened me and told me it was just a metal detector thing. Odd that the security folks aren’t so forthcoming with the rationale.

So I have been giving more thought to mobile blogging and have realized some big gaps.

Blogging via email stinks. You can’t really control what you are posting. But, let’s not get some über-client that is too cumbersome. So far, the basics for a moblog client would be:

• simple text entry with minor formatting (main, extended, and excerpt text entry available thorough menu, not on main screen)
• in-line posting of images (going to image gallery to upload an image, but also inserting image link to better position)
• offline mode, to prepare multiple article and then upload all at once
• firing up Opera after post
• list of posting (like Ecto) for better managing
• categories!

Zempt is a good example of a simple yet thorough PC client. I see many of these features being the basic ones to be folded into a mobile blogging client.

With a client on the phone, some of the headaches I have now – no category selection, no automatic browser feedback loop, and emailing issues – would fall by the wayside.

Of course, being a Series 60 junkie, I want a Series 60 client – especially for my Nokia 6600. Any takers? I’d be willing to consult. 😉

Here’s a picture of a neat collage in a box top that my daughter made at day care.

While day care may look like parents can’t take care of their kids, I keep reminding myself that my daughter is surrounded by really creative people who love to teach children new things.

My role is to teach things as well, but at day care at least, I know her time is well spent – not just an ‘in loco parentis’ situation.

Hey, taking care of kids is work. Unfortunately, somewhere in the Industrial Revolution, we became isolated families, instead of this large social network of sharing the responsibilities of raising the children. While not living in some sort of commune, I am fortunate to have friends and family with whom at various times have split care of the children, freely giving time to one family to give them a break or help them out. Sure, we don’t take the other children in for days at a time, but a night here or a day there, sure make the difference.

It’s this support network that has made parenting less challenging and more rewarding.