luminary blur

…to test my Ping.fm integration once again. I’m pretty sure it still works but I just moved everything to a new database. So, it doesn’t hurt to check again.

written by Ben \\ tags: custom url, Ping.fm, social networking

Ok here’s a test from the mobile version of Ping.fm for the iPhone. Will it work just as well as the website? In all honesty I have a secret - the previous post was not submitted via the website but rather using the Jabber/XMPP function. Worked pretty well didn’t it?

Let’s see if Mobile Safari is as capable. (What would be nice if it underlined misspellings as you type. It already has a dictionary, right?)

written by Ben \\ tags: custom url, Ping.fm, social networking

Sorry it’s been so long. Remember how I thought the iPhone Wordpress app would help me post more often? Yeah, well, it stopped working after it went to the next version. Just crashes every time I try to add my blog. I’ve been in contact with their support team but so far they haven’t gotten back to me.

So now I’m trying Ping.fm to update my blog using their awesome Wordpress plugin. Will it work? Let me hit “Ping it!” and find out…

written by Ben \\ tags: custom url, Ping.fm, social networking

I’m really more interested in trying this out than anything. When Apple finally announced official 3rd party app support, my initial idea of a “killer app” was mobile blogging software. Now that Wordpress for the iPhone is out, my wish has been realized (I know TypePad was first but I’m a Wordpress guy) and here I am blogging from work. Will this newfound ability increase my output? Doubtful. I’ve vowed to be more prolific too many times to count yet this blog still chugs along at one post a month.

Still, the idea of slowly crafting a post via iPhone throughout the day when a spare moment presents itself is an attractive proposition. Heck, it sure beats wasting time on Twinkle which seems to be slowly morphing into some sort of Web 2.0 dating service (see attached screen grab - “female playmate” - enough said).

And so concludes my first truly mobile post. I hope there will be many more.

Note: After posting originally with Wordpress on my iPhone, I went back in with ecto to center the image (for some reason I hate left-aligned images) and also to add a few links to the body of the post. Despite some minor post-production, I think posting from my iPhone is powerful indeed and will—hopefully—drive me to be more active.

written by Ben \\ tags: iPhone, Twinkle, Wordpress

written by Ben \\ tags: Bill Cosby, Video

I feel I’ve been neglecting Luminary Blur for a while. Normally I’d blame it on procrastination or disinterest or really good TV shows (how about that Lost finale). This time, however, I’ve got some good reasons.

• Building a podcast network. Yes, a network. “Doesn’t a network require more than one podcast,” you ask. Indeed it does, and I’m proud to say that the Kwinix Podcast Network now features two regularly produced podcasts. The first is The Switchcast, which amazingly is up to four episodes with the fifth coming any day now. Mac vs. PC, OS X vs. Windows, iPhone vs. Windows Mobile. It’s always a lively debate and I anticipate more intense discussions as the launch of the 3G iPhone is almost here. The newest addition to the network is Dinner Voyeur, a fine dining podcast featuring Scot T. Kokandy. While the first episode was a solo effort, Scot is looking forward to bringing more collaborators into the mix to create some lively discussions around the finest restaurants in Chicago (and beyond). In fact, if you know of any establishment that begs for Scot’s podcast treatment, send him an e-mail. Finally, to create a more “unified” feel to the network, I’ve created an intro that identifies our shows as belonging to the Kwinix Podcast Network. I’ve embedded it below for your listening pleasure—don’t worry, it’s only eight seconds long.
  Kwinix Podcast Network Intro
• Building a website. This is something I used to do a lot and wouldn’t mind doing it more often. I’ve become quite a Joomla expert (I’m currently building a new version of my mom’s Pella Community Day Care site) so when my old college roommate asked me if I was interested in deploying a site for Gonzales Regal Miniature Dachshunds, I jumped at the chance. The site is done for the most part and the first litter has arrived.

I guess that isn’t too much but these two projects have really taken up a lot of my time for the last few weeks. I hope to continue to develop both my podcasting prowess as well as my website development expertise. Thanks for journeying with me.

written by Ben \\ tags: Dinner Voyeur, Kwinix Podcast Network, Podcasting, Tech, The Switchcast

For some reason I found this video really interesting given the recent news out of the International Space Station.

Come on, you can’t deny it. You were a least a little curious about how it works.

written by Ben \\ tags: Space, Video

For all your Microsoft fanboys out there, I just had to excerpt this Paul Thurrott rant from the latest episode of Windows Weekly with Leo Laporte. I laughed the whole way through because it’s so true. So very very true. And it’s linked (and playable) below for your listening enjoyment.

Windows Mobile Rant from Windows Weekly 58 [128 kbps MP3, 2.8 MB, 3:04]

written by Ben \\ tags: Leo Laporte, Microsoft, Paul Thurrott, Tech, Windows Mobile

Oh, how I’ve waited for this day. I’m posting it here and I haven’t even watched it yet. Yes, I’m that excited. Enjoy.

written by Ben \\ tags: Movies, Video, X-Files

Scot was a most willing participant in my first video shot with the Flip. Thank you, Scot!

written by Ben \\ tags: Flickr, Flip, Video