The Moved and Shaken
I had the opportunity to attend an event this evening and John Quinones of ABC News was the keynote speaker. John's latest news show "What Would You Do?" is an ethical test for the common American. John's show has had an impact on us. Fans of the show helped a sometimes homeless woman, Linda Hamilton, get back on her feet after America witnessed her willingness to help a man when others simply passed over him.
John Quinones has an interesting story and his journalism is "shedding light on the dark corners of the world," as he so eloquently stated.
In addition to his well delivered speech and interesting work, I wrote this blog post to capture a quote John recounted from a phone call he had with the late news anchor Peter Jennings. During the call Jennings mentored a frustrated and young Quinones by saying, "It's not the movers and shakers we need to hear from. It's the moved and shaken." I want to remember that.
Continue reading Comments (1) May.26.2009.
Bible Verse Tweet
Earlier this week I built a quick tool that automatically updates a Twitter account with a daily Bible verse from ESV.org (@TodaysVerse). The English Standard Version Bible has a really nice API that allows anyone to pull passages directly from their site. Likewise, Twitter has a very popular API that allows developers to build programs and scripts that can update a status and much more.
Since I'm a fan of open source solutions, I'm sharing this PHP script as an example of updating Twitter using PHP-Twitter with the Twitter API. Enjoy.
Step 1: Download PHP-Twitter - This is a single class file that is "installed" by copying the file 'class.twitter.php' to your web server.
Step 2: Copy the code below to a file that is in the same directory as the 'class.twitter.php' file.
Step 3: Read the documentation in the script below as an example of how to update your Twitter account with data from a source API or database.
Step 4: Add the PHP command line code #!/usr/local/bin/php.cli) to the very first line of your PHP script and then schedule the job to run nightly in CRON.
Continue reading Comments (0) Apr.23.2009.
Palm Pre is Foundationally Open Source
Before (or Pre) this year's Computer Electronic Show, I was not thinking about Palm. My current Palm Centro is slow, too small, and all of the apps are really old. I had decided on waiting for a Google Android phone for the Sprint network.
Then CES happened... The new Pre looks like a character from Wall-e. Applications can be developed using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS (well that's a great tool box - seriously - think gmail). The keyboard appears to be more accommodating and the foundation of this eggy looking device is Linux. Finally applications can be managed like a deck of cards and they maintain their state as you move from app to app.
So, if at possible, I would like to save up enough funds to purchase one of these little devices when they arrive at a local store later this year. I'll keep you posted if I'm able to get one.
See the Pre unveiling at CES
See the Pre on Jimmy Fallon
Read more at the Palm Blog
Continue reading Comments (0) Mar.30.2009.
Politics is Still a Fine Word
With the entire country focused on the election, many people are tired of politics. I can’t blame them. Like all recent elections, the 24/7 news and the constant negative advertising can wear us down.
Despite all of the negatives, politics is still a fine word. Twenty-two year Tennessee State Senator Anna Belle O’Brien (1977–1991) would often start her speeches by saying, “Politics is a beautiful word to me.” She would continue, “Politics is how crippled children walk, the mentally ill get care, roads are built, health care is provided, children are taught.”
It is through the political process that government works, and as informed members of the polis it is our responsibility to never tire from trying to improve the process by engaging in it.
Continue reading Comments (1) Nov.03.2008.