New start in 2008

I am sitting here right now and thinking how in the world I am to follow through with achieving something in this one lifetime that I've got. For the longest time I have underestimated my potential in being able to succeed at whatever I put my mind to and this is the time that it should come to a complete stop. My younger siblings are already making a difference in their own lives; a brother who has an Associates' Degree and already making the same annual salary as I but with a much more technical job position which offers tuition reimbursement for his schooling, and a sister who is set to graduate high school this year as class president with aspirations of college (she's already been accepted at a school). As the eldest of the family children I feel like I haven't done much of anything other than sit back and complain about not finding success for myself in what I love to do. While hesitating to follow through in achieving my dreams I watch my brother and sister sieze their opportunities and make the most of them. I have to admit that while I am definitely proud of them both I am also angry and frustrated with myself...

Just a rant on how I am currently viewing myself before the start of this new year of 2008. There's nothing else to do but shut the &$*! up and follow my dreams. I shall continue printing out those poems for my manuscript.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90

DAY ONE

This is the first day that I have done any kind of workout with the weights since letting myself go a couple months ago. I have been successful at going through a vegetarian diet for almost two weeks now and am doing pretty good at resisting meat altogether. I have posted pictures of myself in my own iPhoto library to begin archiving my progress as I gradually return to a daily workout routine of cardio and free weights. Hopefully within a few months I will be able to post before and after pictures showing a drastic change for the better.

Nokia E90 return

Just recently I have taken advantage of an opportunity to get a great smartphone at a cheap price and I am glad I did. I have my third Nokia E90 Communicator device from spending money at the bargain price of $720, and I felt that this was a Mobileplanet.com deal that I could not pass up! A part of me could not leave out the 2007 year without having this most intriguing tech-toy that has had such a dominating effect on my life. I can recall back to the time when I shot my first YouTube video for the first E90 unboxing in late June when the iPhone was released, and the pleasure of receiving this gadget was paramount at the time! For a while this red E90 and I were inseparable until I ran into a billing problem in regards to my AT&T data usage. After this overcharging mistake made by my carrier I then decided to adopt the iPhone and eventually went through a number of different devices.

My most recent gadget epiphany came from the HTC TyTN II and I just knew that I was in eternal tech-toy bliss...until tonight. Despite all the advanced benefits of the HTC there was a concern for its mediocre camera quality when taking pictures and videos, and for the amount of money spent one is entitled to have a true convergence device. The E90 in this respect is perfect and I am glad to be back with it.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90

TyTN II still lives on

I am still with my amazing TyTN II device and gaining the most efficiency in my day to day activities. From the accurate scheduling of the calendar to the precise execution of the email client and word processor this has evolved into a multifunctional mobile computer. However, last night I did begin to have self-doubt in the multimedia features of this HTC device.

I discovered a new app called vtap and I find it to be the remedy to YouTube's absence from mobile devices. When I compared both the HTC TyTN II and Nokia N95 video playback I was of course blown away by the amazing quality of the Nokia. Instantly I began to feel an impulse to go online and purchase the Nokia E90 to be reunited with its multimedia features once again, but the reality of my financial situation and absent credit cards abruptly slapped me in the face. At this point there is simply no way possible that I would be able to afford a new and unlocked device no matter how extensive the feature listings are. I guess this is good for me to be caught without a quick solution to purchase anything else on credit, for it will ultimately test my endurance in trying to be thankful for everything that I already have. It isn't always important to have the most advanced gadget that can do any and everything and I am for sure learning this.

There was yet another occurrence that demonstrated my love/hate relationship with this TyTN II. Upon visiting a best friend who had a newborn puppy to show off I saw an opportunity to get pictures and videos with my phone camera. Immediately my mind was reminded of the horrible camera quality of the HTC and I then chose to get my N95 from my backpack. With the new firmware update the N95 performed extremely well as a camera and recorded video flawlessly. Even though this was an ideal situation of having the multi-tasking TyTN II being accompanied by a fully-capable Nseries device, my mind began to yearn for the E90 and its well-roundedness as a business/multimedia smartphone. However, while drivng back home I ended up feeling indebted to the fast and functional GPS of my TyTN II when I got lost on a dark, winding road.

It was at that moment I found a new appreciation for my HTC device, for it truly is the most advanced gadget that I am privileged to have. It may not have all of the features of the advanced Nokia devices, but it is so much more useful in its partnership with my laptop as a 3G capable bluetooth modem. Despite its multimedia prowess, the Nokia E90 could never do that when I owned it and at the time I have to admit that I did feel cheated out of all the money that I had spent on it.

It is going to be a long road to get my debt paid off, and I am happy to have made the wisest decision in choosing the TyTN II as my main device.

TRENT
Sent from my TyTN II

Amazon Kindle arrives!

After almost a three weeks of waiting on a backorder I am happy to announce that my Amazon Kindle has finally been delivered from UPS! After a long night of exploring this gadget I can surely say that I am definitely impressed with it. There is no doubt that the functionality of this Kindle absolutely surpasses that of the second generation Sony Reader...so much so that I have already sold my Sony to a buyer the very next day! For right now I am with only this Amazon creation as my primary reading device and I am not one bit missing that old Sony!!

I will be the first to say that I truly underestimated this Kindle in the aspects of its build quality and design aesthetic. Whenever I saw it online in pictures or on video it would only come across as a promising machine that was down-right FUGLY, and yes I said FUGLY. In comparison to the many slimline device models that currently play a huge role in the portable electronics industry, Amazon's product was a visual sore thumb. I was surprised to think that even the gargantuan HTC Advantage managed to show a more attractive profile next to the odd-shaped Kindle. But now that I've held it in my hands I admit that I couldn't have been more wrong. I am not necessarily saying that this design can stand up to the iPhones and N810s and Tilts and Sonys, but it can hold its own nonetheless. While there is an improvement opportunity in regards to the huge page turn buttons that dominate either side of it, the Kindle is very light and feels solid. The abundance of white plastic is a welcomed element for the sake of long-term durability rather than a nagging eyesore that wreaks of low-grade quality. The angles may not come across as too hideous in person but I am still looking forward to the second generation Kindle.

Turning on this thing only increased my fascination just before I took to navigating the interface. What an impressive first attempt that Amazon has made into the digital book market! From the pre-registering of this device with my Amazon account to the built-in dictionary to the wirelss network access to the built-in speaker to the qwerty to the online Kindle store to the fast operating speed (in comparison to the Sony Reader) and to even the experimental applications, this Kindle is a self-sufficient, standalone marvel that needs nothing from a PC or Mac connection (unlike the Sony Reader). For the first time I actually became excited about reading and took about a half hour before bed to curl up with it and get my fill of HG Wells.

All ebook readers and audiobook listeners should keep an eye out for this machine because I think it will make a great impression. As an early adopter I am aware that I run the risk of investing in a ship destined to sink (like the Palm Foleo), but I am hopeful this is not the case. Only time will tell.

TRENT
Sent from my TyTN II

A New Purpose

It has been many hours since I had resigned myself to the fact that I no longer have access to a credit card. All of my accounts are still open (with NO balances) but I have no physical card in my possession to swipe for any new purchases. As of right now I am unable to walk out of a store with any purchased items unless I use cash. Even though this took a while to get used to I am finding a renewed interest in writing again that I hope will prevent me from regressing back to my old spending habits.

TRENT
Sent from my TyTN II

Goodbye to Debt, Hello to Lara.

At this point I can finally say that my credit debt is under control and it feels so liberating! I was approved for a loan with my bank which consolidates all of my debt into one lump sum, and as one can imagine it is quite an amount to be paid off. Aside from the daunting length of time that is needed to pay off this loan I feel relieved that I can put all of this behind me with every passing day.

One thing that is strange is I am not as into tech-toy shopping as I was just a short time ago. Surfing online retailer sites has lost its appeal and I instantly grow bored within minutes. I believe this is a direct result of no longer having a credit card in my possession that can satisfy my need for instant gratification. Suddenly I am realizing that I am in need of something to focus on with the same energy and passion I have for my gadget addiction. Something in my heart says that this is the right moment to get back into my poetry writing and I need to do it fast.

For the past few days of YouTube surfing I rediscovered a Belgian-Italian vocal artist by the name of Lara Fabian. In my opinion she has got to be the most captivating and mesmerizing performer that I have seen in my lifetime. She graces every stage with a delicate humility and warm spirit which is supported by a powerful voice of boundless potential and melodic beauty. Every note that emanates from her lips is shaped with such deep emotion that in turn draws me under her spell. When I see her eyes I cannot help but feel that there is a sense of centeredness within her soul which allows her to be comfortable in her own skin as well as around everyone else. From her self-titled English language album I purchased in 2000 to her performances I am watching on YouTube, I must admit that I am falling in love all over again with her artistry and skill. For me, there are four songs that collectively sum up all that I relish about Lara's talent: Adagio, Broken Vow, A Piece of Sky (live) and Je T'aime. The most memorable footage I have seen of Lara is when she did a live performance of Je T'aime. After the start of the song the ENTIRE arena began singing the lyrics and Lara was immediately moved to tears. The fact that these devoted masses sang each lyric with just as much passion as Lara brought me to tears as I watched. Now that is a fitting example of euphoria if there ever was one!

Forgive my rant on Lara Fabian, but she has something to do with what I would like to accomplish with my poetry in the long term. Not only would I like to be a published poet showcased by Oprah and her book club, but I would also be honored to have Lara Fabian make one of my works into a song. It sounds like a far-fetched idea right now, but so did getting that Jetta just a couple years ago. Just writing about it right now is awakening a desire inside of me to work toward this goal...so if you all would excuse me, I have a poetry portfolio to work on!

TRENT
Sent from my TyTN II