New blog.

I've started a new blog over on my own domain, in part because Blogger has at times been blocked in China, and in part as an opportunity to start anew.

I'll be putting most of this blog's content back for historical purposes next time I'm back in the US, but if you would like to follow along with my newfound adventures in China, I invite you to visit my new space over at herscher.org!

Change is in the air

I've temporarily taken down much of my personal blog as part of a larger effort to re-focus my energies.

I'll be back to writing shortly, with a renewed sense of purpose.

New Toy: AT&T Wireless Option GT Max 3.6 Express 3G Card

One thing I certainly miss about Seattle is the abundance of amazing coffee shops with free WiFi. Even when I had an office, I never missed the opportunity to camp out with my laptop at spots like Bauhaus or Vivace and get some work done among the hustle and bustle of the city.

Now that I don't have an office -- the world is my office -- I have occassion to spend even more time coffee shop and airport hopping.

Unfortunately, not all cities are as coffee or WiFi-friendly as Seattle. I find myself spending more and more time at Starbucks, in neighborhoods where fewer and fewer coffee houses cater to laptop toting folk like me. In fact, it even feels like some of my favorite LA coffee shops intentionally withhold the WiFi!

So today I caved and bought a new toy. It's a tri-band 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) and quad-band GPRS/EDGE ExpressCard, and so far, I absolutely love it. Coverage appears decent, and speed certainly seems fast enough to surf/work. At around $50-$60 for the device (after rebate) and another $50-$60/month for the dedicated line of service, it might seem a little pricey. But hey, compared to a lease on office space, I'd say it's a fair bargain. ;-)