Web Things Considered

This post was published on my iPhone. Turning 30 isn’t so bad with this in my hand. Be sure to leave your favorite iPhone apps in the comments.

Tomorrow is the big 30. Just thought I’d mark the milestone somehow, the passing of an era. No longer will I “still have my youth” :-).

Unfortunately, there haven’t been many web things considered here lately. I became a father for the 2nd time in early June, which has made this a wonderful time. However, time for blogs (both reading and writing) has dwindled as I sharpen my focus on family, work, and paying side-projects (yes, July also marks the first month that I will personally make money on NetworthIQ). I can see opportunities all around these days, it’s just a matter of seizing them. That will be my goal as I enter my 30’s. Less reading and talking, more doing.

It must be time to start a Sherwood Web Innovators group now that it’s been named the #18 best place to live in the country (and top Oregon city). Well, we’re probably not that far along yet, but maybe someday. Here’s the write-up:

Like much of the Northwest, Sherwood is home to an array of beautiful parks and natural beauty. But the quickly growing commercial sites of Sherwood offer true insight into the town’s character: a juxtaposition of old and new, with reverence toward both the city’s historic past and its bright, expanding future. The community events calendar is always full and the town’s location makes for a fairly easy commute to nearby Portland. -A.B.

As much as I complain about living so far out, Sherwood does indeed have a nice community feel to it, the downtown/old town area has a great throwback vibe, and there are nice parks and sports facilities. I grew up in a town of only a couple thousand people, near Eugene, and that was definitely too small for me. But the 15,000 population range, while near a bigger city is an appealing mix. Plus, you can have a decent backyard. That makes it great for families.

If you don’t have a family, you would probably go crazy in this town. I’m betting there is a picture of Sherwood in the dictionary next to the definition of “suburbia.” I can’t believe the “fairly easy commute” line from the author. Say what? Personally, I think Sherwood is by far, the most difficult commute of the west-side suburbs (Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilsonville, Beaverton, Hillsboro). There are minimal mass-transit options (nowhere near MAX, one bus running up HWY 99), and driving down Tualatin-Sherwood road to I-5 is one of the most aggravating stretches of road you will ever travel. I know a lot of people make the commute, but I would never refer to it as easy.

But, it’s great to see the city get some exposure, perhaps we’ll get some better restaurants now. One can only eat at Red Robin so many times.

I found this report about remaining iPhone stock funny. Despite the fact that there was a line 50 deep at the Sherwood AT&T store on launch night (I checked), the closest Apple store still has stock:

Stocks of iPhones were depleted at all but two of Apple’s retail stores by the end of business on July 4th. Only the Shadyside (Pittsburgh) and Bridgeport Village (Portland area) stores report stock when they open Thursday, July 5th. Estimates of initial iPhone supplies by analysts range from 700,000 down to about 350,000, not including iPhones shipped to 1,800 AT&T stores.

One of my colleagues managed to flip two iPhones on eBay for a modest profit that were purchased at the Bridgeport store shortly after they were released, and without having to wait in line more than a couple minutes.

I guess I’ll know where to go next time there’s a hot Apple release. And, no I didn’t get an iPhone yet, and yes I do want one. The real web, not some crippled mobile browser, in the palm of my hand wherever I go. Sounds like a dream to me.