Smartphone… and the winner is…

Still Palm OS based phone.

I’ve been a Palm Centro user since three years ago. And I have to admit, that like most people, sometimes I get bored of this phone and tempted to buy a new phone. But I never really want to leave my palm phone. Why? That’s because the OS is very efficient and the softwares are very good compared to other platform. I have an ipod touch, and I buy an iphone for my wife, but I never really like them. It’s difficult to type on iphone. As for blackberry, the softwares especially for organizer are not as good as for Palm.  Nokia phone is tempting me, but for now, I feel all my needs are fulfilled by the Centro. The point is I can’t find the softwares I used on my Centro on other platform.

Palm OS still rules. If I need mobile e-mail, I’m using snappermail. Not as real time as blackberry (no push email on Palm OS), but who really needs real time e-mail? If there’s something so important, then the sender should call me instead of e-mailing me. For GTD implementation, there’s no better software than LifeBalance. The calendar in the Palm OS is simple yet effective. I wonder after all these years, why there’s no one platform make a calendar software as good as Palm’s (or better). For expense tracking, I use inexpense2. It’s simple, to the point, and fun to use. I track my exercise log using Athletix, a free but very good software. For journaling, natara daynotez is a great piece of software. There’s a lot of mobile site nowadays, so I don’t have any difficulties to browse using the stock browser, Blazer. Perfect pitch is my weapon for tuning my lovely ukulele, as well as UkeChord, the chord database. Those are only part of many other tools installed in my Centro. For navigation, I link my Centro to an external bluetooth GPS.

So, as I said before, that I can get bored too. What I do? I found a solution. Using some hack (YAHM) and a software called FontHackV, I change my Centro font. I feel like holding a new phone :-).

Palm rocks!

My and Her Love Language

In case I forget, when I thought about this, I think my love language is: words of affirmation (kata-kata penguatan) and physical touch (sentuhan fisik). Her language, I think, is: receiving gifts (menerima hadiah), and quality time (waktu berkualitas).

Lyrics – Sajojo (Papua folk song)

Sajojo, sajojo
Yumanampo misa papa
Samuna muna muna keke
Samuna muna muna keke

Sajojo, sajojo
Yumanampo misa papa
Samuna muna muna keke
Samuna muna muna keke

Kuserai, kusaserai rai rai rai rai
Kuserai, kusaserai rai rai rai rai

Inamgo mikim ye
pia sore, piasa sore ye ye
Inamgo mikim ye
pia sore, piasa sore ye ye

Dropbox, an excellent sync solution

If you’re like me, using docs to go in your smartphone, and working on many computer, you must have been looking a sync software. There is now a solution for us from dropbox (http://www.getdropbox.com). The concept is simple, when installed, it creates a folder in your computer, and everything goes into the folder will be synced with your dropbox account. The same will do for other pc you registered to your dropbox account. That way, when you change one file in one of your pc, you will get the updated file in other pc you’re working on.

Palm OS handheld will not die

Do you know why?

1.  There are huge amount of software out there for palm OS, and lot of the users had invested in those software.
2. It’s the simplest thing to help doing GTD system. GTD is an abbreviation for Getting Things Done, a system popularized by David Allen in one of his book. You can do GTD system in other smartphone or PDA like blackberry or ipod/iphone, but nothing out there as simple as a palm handheld.
3. The sync process with its desktop companion is proven. It’s one of important aspect of a PDA, the ability to sync with desktop PC. Because it’s much easier and faster to work on desktop when it’s available.

An Example on Why We Should Not Believe the News Blindly (CBS’s “60 Minutes” Case)

Recently, CBS’s “60 Minutes” aired a story about an Ecuador lawsuit to Chevron. To be noted, the CBS people spent extensive amount of time with the plaintiffs’ representative, compared to Chevron.

Here are sole key ommisions that call into question the integrity of the program’s reporting:

• Images are of Petroecuador sites and are not Texaco-remediated sites: The images of oil pits, and oil operations in general, that “60 Minutes” used are of locations that are the sole responsibility of Petroecuador, Texaco Petroleum’s partner from the days of the consortium. “60 Minutes” knew this fact, but chose to ignore it in its reporting.
• No responsibility was placed on Petroecuador: Petroecuador has been the sole operator of oil fields in Ecuador since 1992 and has compiled a well-documented record of environmental mismanagement. In addition, Petroecuador has repeatedly stated that it is responsible for the remaining cleanup work that is required in the Ecuadorian Amazon and it readily admits that it has not cleaned up the sites allocated to them under the remediation action plan 15 years ago. Again, “60 Minutes” ignored these facts in its reporting.
• $27 billion damage figure is baseless and unsupported by law, facts or science:  Richard Cabrera, the court-appointed engineer who made the $27 billion damage recommendation, conducted his analysis with direct support from the plaintiffs’ representatives. Cabrera arrived at the $27 billion figure at the urging of plaintiffs. Chevron provided “60 Minutes” with photos documenting this wholly improper relationship. In addition, we provided “60 Minutes” with signed checks that went directly from the plaintiffs to Cabrera. Unfortunately, “60 Minutes” did not interview Cabrera and failed to scrutinize Cabrera’s “independence.”
• Evidence does not support claims: The American trial lawyers behind this case have yet to produce evidence that corroborates their claims. For instance, the water well that was featured in the story was sampled during an inspection several years ago. Neither Chevron’s nor the plaintiffs’ data show any petroleum contamination of the drinking water. Notably, the water sampling did show high levels of bacterial contamination of the water supply. The well site was also outside the area Texaco Petroleum was asked by the Government of Ecuador to remediate – a fact known, but not reported by “60 Minutes.” Also, we escorted “60 Minutes” to sites where municipal sewage was being discharged directly into the local water supply, but “60 Minutes” never used the footage. 

Examiner.com Is Not Very Reliable

This morning I read a news in my google reader, about the first user of Palm Pre among the celebrities. She is Angelina Jolie. So I followed the link, it went to examiner.com. It was around 7.30 am. Please read the notes in the screenshot. Well, it is 9.40 am now when I write this post, and it’s still the same screen and notes. No news in 5 minutes, no change, no Palm Pre, no Angelina Jolie, no nothing. Truly unreliable news source.

Palm Tips of The Day

Use the available shortcut! It really helps me to use any software comfortably. For example, in the OliveTree Bible Reader, two shortcuts that I use often are menu-t (toggle full screen) and menu-w (split screen) for reading the promises book together with the bible.

quote yang menyentuh jiwa (bukan emosi)

1. Waktunya sudah dekat untuk menentukan apakah bangsa Amerika akan bebas atau menjadi budak. George Washington
2. Berikanlah saya kemerdekaan atau berikan saya kematian. Patrick Henry
3. Anda tidak bisa menindas seseorang tanpa ikut menderita bersamanya. Booker T. Washington
4. Saya memiliki impian…. Martin Luther King
5. Jangan tanyakan apa yang dapat dilakukan negara untuk anda. John Kennedy
6. Menang adalah kebiasaan. Sayangnya, demikian juga dengan kalah. Vince Lombardi
7. Hanya kepercayaan pribadi kita terhadap kebebasan yang membuat kita tetap bebas. Dwight Eisenhower
8. Penakut tidak pernah bisa baik. Gandhi
9. Jangan biarkan apa yang tidak dapat anda lakukan mengganggu apa yang dapat anda lakukan. John Wooden
10. Jangan bersikap rendah hati; anda tidak begitu hebat. Golda Meir. (hahahah)
11. Teman terbaik saya adalah orang yang mengeluarkan yang terbaik dalam diri saya. Henry Ford (I like this one most)

My Holland Code Test

Your Holland Code is IAR. Read below to find more about your preferred work environment.

Investigative Score = 8

Investigative types tend to be analytical, curious, reserved, independent, and introspective. They usually do not enjoy giving work direction to others or receiving work direction from others. They prefer working alone or with colleagues with comparable levels of expertise. They may have unconventional attitudes. Investigative types prefer not to work in a structured environment with a great many rules. They often like to work at their own pace without deadlines or constraints. They tend to enjoy intellectual, complicated and abstract problems. They are often scientifically oriented.

Artistic Score = 7

Artistic types tend to be creative, intuitive, expressive and nonconforming. They enjoy art, music, drama, writing or other creative endeavors. They often like to work alone. Although they may be private, they usually like recognition for their creative contributions. Artistic types like freedom and spontaneity, and they may feel stifled with a great deal of structure, rules or regular hours. They may prefer to work on projects in spurts, often late at night or early in the morning. They generally have a need for individualistic expression and a flexible environment.

Realistic Score = 6

Realistic types tend to be stable, practical and persistent. They prefer practical, “hands-on” environments dealing with well-defined products. They may prefer traditional ways of doing things. They generally like a physical-type of environment or the out-of-doors. Realistic types tend to be doers who prefer action rather than discussion. They may be physically, mechanically or athletically inclined. They tend to like to work with objects, machines, tools, plants or animals.

Social Score = 4

Social types tend to be humanistic, friendly, idealistic and cooperative. They are concerned with their own feelings and those of others. They seek to help people improve themselves. They usually like to use their verbal and interpersonal skills. Social types generally enjoy training, developing, curing or enlightening others. They prefer a cooperative, participatory team environment. They usually listen well and read the needs of others. They generally are willing to take extra time and effort to resolve conflict.

Conventional Score = 3

Conventional types tend to be orderly, conscientious, steady and conforming. They often prefer maintenance or follow-through tasks. They tend to be precise and methodical in their work. They tend to trust the “tried-and-true” ways that experience has shown successful. They like practical environments governed by definite rules and procedures. Conventional types like to know exactly what is expected of them, preferring definite rules that they can follow with a minimum of change or disruption. They often prefer working in office settings with definite hours, good training and secure benefits.

Enterprising Score = 3

Enterprising types tend to be energetic, ambitious, confident and fast-paced individuals who usually enjoy power, status and wealth. They can be quite assertive and persuasive. They often enjoy risk, competition and adventure. Enterprising types usually do not like to get bogged down in detail work, instead preferring a quick assessment, then action. They like influencing, persuading and selling. They often gravitate toward leadership positions.