So I decided to enter the Key West Paddleboard Classic, a 12 mile paddleboard race around the Island of Key West. I didn’t come in 1st or even 30th(in my division) but at least I finished it.

This past weekend I finally got my hands on an iPad for the first time. In my simplest explanation I see it more as a time waster, and less of a time saver. Now don’t get me wrong it is a beautiful device, and if you have an iPhone you will be able to tell right off the bat the functionality of the iPad blows away its little brother in response, speed and overall power. And if you are looking for a device to play, music, watch videos, read a book or general web browsing then by all means get it and you’ll love it. But, if you are looking for something to get some real work done on (besides general email) then the iPad falls way short on the power and flexibility.

When i first picked the iPad up my mind was a little confused. Right off the bat when i went to type something, my mind told my fingers to operate it like an iPhone. I went to the “two thumbs typing” iPhone motion as i thought to myself, wow thats stupid i should be using it more like a laptop when it comes to that. I then corrected myself and tried out a more regular “home row” keyboard typing model. I also felt a little better as I noticed the idiot to the right of me was typing like it was an iPhone as well, so i was not the only one. When i went to type something, the touchscreen keyboard felt more cramped then an normal laptop keyboard so neither motion felt quite right. Im guessing with time it would feel more normal but i also felt that a little larger screen would be a better solution as it would usher you to use it more like a laptop and less like an iPhone.

All in all, in my 10 minute opinion, the iPad for me is more of a want and not a need but it is one step closer to the possibility of a more powerful laptop or desktop with multi touch capabilities of the iPhone and iPad which i would take my light-saber and stack of harry potter books to go stand in line at an Apple store for.

The newest version of the company I work for, blue-turtle.com is now up and live. I added many new features and additions to blue-turtle.com which was originally a portfolio, or a display of the work completed by Blue-Turtle Productions’ design studio. The site now includes the addition of the Blue-Turtle Gallery which recently opened featuring works of art by owner Teresa Willis. The whole site has been redeveloped with ExpressionEngine. The power, versatility and freedom EE gives makes a more full experience to the visitor with updated news, calendars, artwork and portfolio pieces of both Gallery and Design Studio.

As the video battle (how people view video on the internet) races on with Apple’s ideas one way and some others another way, I recently integrated chrishiggins.net to use the html 5 video tags. No disrespect to Flash but the further that Apple moves away from the platform, the less I will put into Flash development. As Flash once seemed to have a stronghold on showing video via the interweb, lately it seems that more and more of video based sites, that once used the flash players exclusively, are going in search of other directions as well. I fond a great little chunk of html 5 code that uses the html 5 video tags to display video clips and then falls back to quicktime or flash and finally a video download option if your trying to view my site from a rotary phone. I am really happy with the new system and am excited to put it in other sites that i will be doing in the near future.

As the summer months are fast approaching it has been a refreshingly cool spring in the keys. There has been a Key West surf day here and there (see recent photos), but a surprisingly good little spring for waves in the land of the super flat ocean. Besides my luck in the water, there has been a ton that is getting ready to kick off in the month ahead. I am excited for the release the newest version of a website for the company I work for that should be ready for the middle of the month. The new site is not only for the design company i work for but also an art gallery that my boss is opening under the same name “blue-turtle” as well as in the same building I have worked in since moving to Key West. No sneak peaks on the new site yet, but lets just say that with Apple’s release of the iPad in a few short days it will be fully functional on the new device (sorry Flash).

If you have not noticed, the look of chrishiggins.net has changed a bit. I have decided to take the inspiration of years ago when in my 3rd grade classroom, the bulletin board calendar would change periodically through the year. Since i may be a little lax with always having new material posted, I thought the least i could do is change the feel every month to reflect what is going on, or just a change of season or whatever.

A bit of a cold front coming though Florida brought an incredibly unexpected late afternoon surf session in Key West. I haven’t seen this Louie’s Back Yard ridable in over a year. A big thanks to Billy who’s flight got canceled to give the heads up of waves at LBY, and then an even bigger thanks to Ryan Muntin for finding the camera i dropped at the beginning of the session. Goto kwsurf.com to see some of the pics i got of this pre-storm, mid-February Sunset session.

With Christmas a little less than a week a way, I got an early present from the Key West Weather Gods as the wind started blowing from an oncoming cold front last night. Waking up early is usually a tough task unless, like today, the wind is howling just enough to make it worth jumping on my bike to check and see if there is anything to ride in the water. After seeing what I had to work with my 10’6” SUP was the only logical choice. An hour of fun before work always seems like not even close to enough, but at the same time, no complaints ever.

I finally made it up to Gainesville this past Thanksgiving weekend to see the first live college football game, since my days at K-State as i watched the KSU Wildcats run the Big12 (yeah… its been a while). The Gators were playing interstate rival FSU and im sorry to the fine people at Kansas State, but the whole “Gators” thing was kind of a spectacle like i have never seen. I am not sure if it was the whole Florida Interstate rivalry, or it being Tim Tebow’s last game at home as UF’s Quarterback, or if it was Southern SEC Football or even just how enjoyable my girlfriend and her brother made Gainesville itslef, but i was quite impressed to say the least. Just wanted to thank Aileen’s brother Shane again for hooking us up with the tickets and both of them for a truly great experience up in Gainesville.

A late storm in the ‘09 hurricane season blessed the Key West Beaches with some ridable fun waves. From Saturday morning through Monday Sunset, a few people were lucky enough to take advantage of southern winds blown up from Hurricane Ida. It may sound silly but there is really nothing better than a sunday full of catching waves in Key West (Sorry Everything else fun to do in Key West).

Good news and some bad news. First the good News. Key West sent out some photos for national publications to use for Fantasy Fest 2009 Articles. One of them focused on Aileen, Cayman and Myself in the Parade as coast guards in pursuit of a drug running go fast boat. A great shot captured by Key West photographer Rob O’Neal. And now the bad news. I found the photo front and center with this Tampa based, ABC Action News article. The article is about the a homicide committed during Fantasy Fest. It is the first in the festival’s 30 year existence.

Click Here To Read the Article (and see the shot with it)

With the 2009 Fantasy Fest Parade one day away, we are trying to put the final touches on the vehicles and props that will be used. Everything looks fantastic, and everyone helping out is excited for the parade to get here. This is the 2nd time I have been in the Fantasy Fest Parade, the first was a few years ago and it is really the most fun way to experience the Saturday night finally.

This year I am going to help out with, and be in the 2009 Fantasy Fest Parade with a group led by Cayman Smith-Martin. The idea is ‘Smugglers Paradise’ which is reenacting the Keys in the 70s when drug trade and dirty cops was as rampant as go fast boats packed with kilos and bales being chased by coast guard cutters. And the Key West pinks weren’t the reason the shrimpers were as rich as the cops. It should be a fun time.

Another fantastic Goombay Celebration to kick off Fantasy Fest. I have been pretty lax on producing videos this year but be on the lookout for a Higgins.TV Fantasy Fest Special. We are hoping to rival what we did last year with our idea of costume choice (with cameras of course) so hopefully we will have something up in a couple of weeks.

I have just started the 3rd major revamp of chrishiggins.net. I decide to start from the ground up, once again, as i did with v2.0. This time I am using Expression Engine, which is an extremely powerful and versatile CMS (Content Management System) to build the site with. EE’s platform allows me limitless control of all the, pictures, video, weblogs, and general information. It also makes updating easier and gives me even more control of how the media and information are presented.

In preparation for a much needed Central American get-a-way, its time to get the mind and body in shape for another run down to Costa Rica. I decided to pick up a hobby that a 4th grade teacher put to rest years ago, a little thing called reading. As it would be a fib for me to say this was the first time i have picked up a book (out of pleasure) since, i have not done so since last year and i think my 4th grade experience would be the last time before that. Recently, I have picked up a couple of books to get me in the mood for a surf trip. The first being “In Search of Captain Zero,” to get me in the Costa Rica mood and the second “Pipe Dreams,” the auto/bio of Kelly Slater to make me feel better about my inadequacies in the water when the waves get a bit larger than i am comfortable with (i have not got to the part where he inevitably gets comfortable in big surf yet). As reading has not been my idea of a super fun time in the past 20 or so years, im glad i have finally got in the mood to put my nose in a couple books. Now that the mind is happy, hopefully i can get the body in shape for a couple hands full of two-a-day sessions. To try and accomplish this in the next month i just got a Stand up Paddleboard that i have put in the water every day since it was delivered at the end of last week. If, I can keep that streak going until i get out of town, the body’s delight will rival the mind.