What the hell is a mobile phone?

By this day and age, a mobile phone should be nothing more than a tiny, pluggable device. It should be no larger than your thumbnail. We still think of phones in a handful sort of way, with a physical interface. Even though smartphones are mostly computer, we still consider them phones.

Phones are, and will always be two-way data stream enablers. Mobile phones will evolve to be TCP/IP-based, and should, therefore, be considered part of computer gear. That said, the question is "What computer gear should phones be part of?" The answer is "All of it." Why is there not a generic telephone interface on tablets, laptops, handhelds, e-readers, and all devices of the type?

Take a look at what Google did with the Google Voice interface on GMail, and you will understand. There is one, tiny icon shaped like an anachronistic telephone handset. Click it and you get a small pop-up window that allows you to type in a name and start a conversation. Why is this not happening on all devices?

Nacogdoches Blueberry Festival 2011

Main Street of Nacogdoches was transformed this past Saturday, into the annual Blueberry Festival. The usually quiet street became a bustling collection of booths, stages, and throngs of people. Our very early arrival found us there before most, while the day was still a bit cool.

Still, when we got there, there was already a huge line waiting for blueberry pancakes.

It stretched down a side street, then across the town square, over to the pancake booth.

The pancakes were apparently worth the wait, as these grins testified.

Here was yet another satisfied customer!

Those waiting were treated to a bit of music, with some picking and grinning, too.

Lots of arts and crafts booths were there. My favorites were the unabashed, tongue-in-cheek Texas tributes.

There were lots of jams, jellies, and preserves on sale.

There was some serious cooking competition as well, though.

The bank was the site of prize winners in a series of categories. This recipe looked unusual, but tasty - blueberry salsa with blue corn chips.

Most people ended up at the Mill Creek Farm booth at the end of the festival site.

There most people took away a flat of blueberries to make their preserves and pancakes. I never saw so many blueberries in one place - 12 pints per flat. Wow!

Everybody got some blueberries!

There was plenty more, though, if you had a hankering. There was barbecue and turkey legs, and more, besides.

There were pretty ladies...

motorcycles,

singing groups,

and Tupperware, too.

But my favorite of all was just plain Texans. There was infinite variety and a wagon-load of character!

Another Phase

Things have changed for me, radically changed. I live in another town. I live with another person. My goals, my aspirations, my daily existence have all changed. It all happened quickly, and it all happened with repercussions. So, here I am, the same person as before? Maybe, maybe not, but I will still collect stories and pictures from daily life.

So here goes, a visit to the Mize Azalea Garden on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University (part of the Texas state university system). The garden is a collection of azaleas, ornamental trees like magnolia and red maple, and camellias. It consists of several acres, over a mile of trails, many sections, and an adjoining arboretum. The Mize family is a local Nacogdoches family that ran a department store from 1925 until recently. The garden is named after Ruby Mize.

There are many varieties of both azaleas and camellias here. The colors are brilliant. The shapes and sizes of blooms are amazing.

The ornamental trees are also beautiful.

Some of the blooms remind me of orchids, the coloration is so varied.

This is a heavenly place during late March and early April. People come from all around Texas to see the gardens.

My companion was willing to sit for a few shots. Her family has not seen anything new lately, so it was time.

The camellias and ornamentals were particularly graceful.

It is just not possible to get tired of the shapes, colors, and sizes.

We visited just before the peak of blooms. A docent told us that in a week it would be even brighter and more beautiful.

We found that a bit hard to believe, though.

Over a little bridge we found the edge of the arboretum, and a small shelter with a swing.

Then it was back to the camellias.

Each bloom seemed more perfect than the last.

The sun played perfectly on the azaleas.

A final bit of perfection and we were on our way.